Giant Hail & Savage Storms Lash Australia's East Coast
Australia's eastern seaboard was battered by a series of severe spring storms on November 25, 2025, unleashing colossal hailstones and widespread destruction. The state of Queensland bore the brunt, with the capital city Brisbane reporting hailstones as large as 14cm – comparable to the size of a grapefruit – causing significant damage to vehicles, solar panels, and residential roofs overnight.
Extreme Winds and Widespread Power Outages
The formidable weather system was not limited to just giant hail. It also generated cyclonic winds gusting up to 100km/h and an astounding 800,000 lightning strikes. This ferocious combination proved devastating for infrastructure, downing power lines and plunging over 95,000 homes and businesses across Queensland into darkness, according to energy distributor Energex.
Continued Storm Threat and Heatwave Alert
Forecasters from the Bureau of Meteorology warned that the wild weather was far from over. Further severe storms were anticipated for November 25 across south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales, fueled by persistent high humidity and scorching temperatures. Senior Meteorologist Miriam Bradbury, speaking to national broadcaster ABC, highlighted the similarity in conditions to the previous day, though she noted a slight reduction in intensity, suggesting a lower risk of "giant-sized hail" compared to the initial onslaught.
Adding to the meteorological challenges, northern parts of Queensland were simultaneously placed under an extreme heatwave warning, with maximum temperatures expected to soar above 40 degrees Celsius.
Residents Share Unprecedented Hail Images
Residents across Queensland quickly took to social media platforms like Reddit to share astonishing images of the massive hailstones. One user posted a picture of a hailstone they measured at a remarkable 10cm across and weighing 188.8g, commenting, "I’ve never seen such large hailstone here before." The visual evidence underscored the unprecedented nature of the spring storm.
