Storm brings rain to region

© iStockphoto.com/Carmen Martínez Banús

IPSWICH residents can expect a shower or two today and tomorrow but nothing as severe as the storm that struck on Monday night according to weather forecasters.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Bryan Rolstone said the Ipswich region could face heavy downfalls again next week, but said this weekend would be fine.

“We're only expecting scattered showers until Thursday. We're expecting more rain from the middle of next week,” Mr Rolstone said.

“But Friday and the weekend should have good weather conditions.”

Monday's storms wrecked havoc on Ipswich, causing a number of traffic accidents and leaving thousands of residents without power.

Energex spokesman Elliot Willemsen-Bell said crews were flat out restoring power to affected homes as quickly as possible.

“From about 6.30pm to 8pm homes in Silkstone, Blackstone and Chuwar were without power, while later that night about 1600 Collingwood Park residents had no power,” he said.

“We're just urging people to be prepared for the storm season by taking simple precautions like having battered-powered torches and radios.

“It's important people check their yards for fallen trees and powerlines, and to clear their gutters and lawns.”

The Bureau of Meteorology's seasonal outlook predicts thunderstorms were most likely to occur from now until April with a peak in south-east Queensland between November and January.

If the environmental conditions are supportive, most storms have the potential to be severe with damaging wind and hail.

Boonah police officer Senior Constable Wayne Noffke said wet weather appeared to be a significant factor in a fatal road accident on the Cunningham Highway on Monday afternoon.