General News
6 November, 2025
Hail fog, house saved from a lightning strike fire, and a trampoline on the roof
Wild weather continued last week as a storm produced hail fog at Jondaryan and a lightning strike fire at Oakey on Friday, while on Saturday, another storm blew a trampoline through a roof at Goombungee.
It’s been another week of severe storms, featuring high-speed winds, severe hail and lightning strikes.
On Friday afternoon, a storm swept through, dumping hail on Jondaryan and Malu which created a snow-like appearance in some yards. Having come after a day of hot weather, the hail quickly evaporated, creating fog.
At Oakey, a lightning strike started a fire in a paddock on McKenzie Road, west of the town proper. Fire crews worked for an hour to protect the residence from the stubble blaze, which burned through hectares.
Halloween celebrations on Friday were dampened by the weather and many families stayed indoors.
Severe warnings were in place across the Darling Downs the next day.
Jacaranda Day at Goombungee had just finished before a storm with high-speed winds arrived, knocking over farm sheds around the wider district.
At one Goombungee home, a trampoline tied to a patio and weighed with bags of concrete was dislodged, blowing up onto the roof, and breaking roof tiles with its legs and arms.
One arm pierced the ceiling of the bathroom and tiles were knocked from four spots on the roof, with water gushing through a manhole and laundry light.
The home owner said SES crews were on-hand the next day to patch up the holes in the roof.
On the whole, the district was spared the worst of the storms, with the most severe storm cell impacting the Clifton district on Saturday with large hail smashing car windscreens and breaking many local windows, including at The Clifton Courier office.
Over a hundred SES calls were made in the Toowoomba Region over the weekend, mostly in this area, which was visited by Mayor Geoff McDonald and Condamine MP Pat Weir.
Mayor McDonald said the storms were a reminder to:
- check and clean roof, gutters and downpipes;
- identify loose objects in front and back yards, such as outdoor furniture and toys that will have to be put away or secured if a storm approaches; and
- pack an emergency kit to set aside for a storm that includes torches, spare batteries, a battery-operated radio, canned food, UHT milk and bottled water.
“We all have a role to play in ensuring that we are prepared for whatever nature throws at us,” Mayor McDonald said.
“People need to be aware of how quickly the situation can change when a storm hits.”
There are several free online resources which residents can access to ensure they are prepared for extreme weather, including the Toowoomba Region’s Council Disaster Dashboard & the State Government’s Get Ready website.
To find out how you can prepare your home, family, and community visit www.getready.qld.gov.au
In a life-threatening emergency call 000 (triple zero), and for emergency flood or storm assistance, call the State Emergency Service on 132 500.
