WILD WEATHER Extremes of storm and heat

STRONG winds and heavy rains wreaked havoc across Townsville yesterday as the welcome heatwave relief took a wild turn.

After reaching a top of 40.3C, the temperature plummeted more than 12C in about an hour as a small but powerful thunderstorm lashed the city.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning across the North Queensland region about 2pm and recorded wind gusts of up to 124km/ h in Lucinda at the height of the storm.

Meteorologist Lachlan Stoney said the widespread showers would only have a “brief” cooling effect on Townsville.

“When the storm comes it causes an evaporative cooling effect, bringing in dry, fresh, cool air, but as soon as the clouds disappear and the sun comes out it will be straight back to hot and humid,” he said. Townsville is expected to reach a top of 39C today with conditions forecast to ease slightly over the weekend due to coastal sea breezes.

Townsville Airport recorded 38.4C at 2pm yesterday before the storm hit. The mercury dropped to 26C by 3pm and by 7.30pm the temperature had climbed back to 30C.

Meanwhile, inland areas are expected to remain hot until the middle of next week.

More than 1200 Townsville households lost power about 3pm yesterday after trees downed powerlines.

Residents in Aitkenvale, Heatley, Vincent and Gulliver were the hardest hit after a large tree took out some wires on Turner St, Pimlico.

An Ergon Energy spokeswoman said crews worked quickly to repair the damage, with most homes reconnected by about 7pm.

A car parked in Turner St was crushed by the same tree but no one was injured in the incident.

Mount Low resident Codie Fitzgerald was working near Turner St and told the Bulletin everyone was sheltering inside at the time the tree fell.

“I heard a bit of noise then we went outside and saw the tree had crushed a car,” she said.

“It was actually someone’s rental car so the company actually helped him out and got him a replacement.”

Ms Fitzgerald said a nearby carpark was turned into a “bog patch” by the heavy rain.

“We park in basically a dirt patch next to work and when I left there was an elderly lady bogged there,” she said. “We got a fair bit of rain and two people were waiting for RACQ to come help.”

Townsville Airport received more than 20mm of rain between 9am and 6pm, Bluewater received about 28mm and Mysterton recorded 35mm.