POWER was still out in most of southern Redland Bay on Friday morning after a powerful storm cell, packing winds of up to 78knots, ripped through the area on Thursday evening.
Energex said it was working to restore power to 3896 homes at Redland Bay, Lamb, Macleay, Karragarra and Russell Islands, which all bore the brunt of the storm cell.
However, Energex spokesman Justin Coomber said many on Russell and Macleay were likely to be without power until 6.30pm.
More than 4000 homes were without power after lightning cracked a branch from a 50ft Moreton Bay fig which crashed through power lines in Serpentine Creek Road just after 6.15pm.
The tree dragged down power lines more than 100m away, snapping a power pole, which crashed through a fence.
Resident Steve Govan said he believed the winds that hit the tree were more than 78knots (144km/h).
“There was a lot of damage in such a short time – the wind came from the south but usually we are protected by a hill,” he said.
“I’ve never seen a power pole snap in two like that – I reckon we’ll be without power for the whole day.”
Serpentine Creek Road was closed to traffic from 6.30pm until 9.30pm.
Nearby Cleveland-Redland Bay Road was also closed after the storm levelled trees and bamboo tossing them across the road.
Winds of up to 144km/h lifted tin roof sheeting from a mechanics garage carrying it more than 300m across a paddock and a road.
Bureau of Meteorology recorded wind gusts of up to 78knots off Peel Island but boaties in the area said they recorded gusts of up to 82knots.
Traffic to southern Redland Bay and Carbrook was diverted to Mount Cotton.
However, Mount Cotton Road was also blocked in two sections after a chicken truck from Golden Cockerell ploughed into a ditch.
Boats at Redland Bay were also buffeted with a 30ft steel monohull colliding with a 50ft catamaran. Both boats received substantial damage.
Redland Bay Water Police were kept busy all night attending more than 10 calls for help from land and water.
