Severe storms have smashed parts of southern Queensland for the third consecutive day, causing significant damage at the Warwick Aerodrome. Hangars and aircraft bore the brunt of the storm, resulting in tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage.
Strong winds lashed the Southern Downs region late on Monday afternoon, with gusts reaching 150 kilometres per hour. Dan Papacek's hangar was severely damaged when the storm tore through the aerodrome about 4:30pm. 'Someone described it as a mini tornado … it's pushed the hangar doors on the western side right in,' he said.
Of the three aircraft damaged, at least one is expected to be a write-off. Michael Zupanc of the Warwick Gliding Club described the damage as 'catastrophic,' noting that high winds had torn iron sheets from buildings and driven them into other structures.
At Toowoomba's Wellcamp Airport, about 90 kilometres north of Warwick, wind gusts of more than 90 kilometres per hour were recorded on Monday night. Similar speeds were recorded at Dalby and Roma. The Bureau of Meteorology says conditions are easing, with a cloudband moving offshore.
Severe storms also impacted parts of north Queensland, with lightning strikes causing power outages near the Coppabella coal mine. Ergon Energy reported about 56 customers were without power overnight, and restoration could take a full day due to the difficult location.
