Energex restores power to 500 homes, 32 still in the dark

Energex has restored power to all but 32 homes after storms ripped through the Sunshine Coast this morning. 

Residents in the Nambour area are the worst affected with damage caused to equipment. 

Another update will be available at 5.30pm 

UPDATE 3PM:

THREE Hundred homes are still without power, mostly in the Mountain Creek area after a morning thunderstorm. 

Energex have restored power to more than 1000 which were without power for more than three hours after the rain and wind swept through the central parts of the Sunshine Coast about 11am. 

Energex crews are undertaking emergency repairs to return power to the remaining 509 homes. 

UPDATE 12.10PM

POWER is still out across 1700 homes at Buderim and Mountain Creek due to a lightning strike affecting equipment.

Daily Facebook readers have told of the weather at their homes. 

Amanda Stibbe said the rain and wind came across fast at Maroochy River.

Kylie Pats said it was "belting" down with thunder and lightning at Caloundra 

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UPDATE 11.50AM

POWER outages on the Coast seemed to be only fleeting. 

Energex has restored power to all but 1000 homes after the rain bucketed down in the central part of the Coast. 

1700 homes are without power in the areas of Buderim and Mountain Creek after a lightning strike hit equipment in the area.

Energex crews are making their way to the area to fix the problem and restore power to the remaining homes.

An Energex spokesman said several dozen lightning strikes had been recorded in the area. 

Power has also been restored to traffic lights on Alexandra Parade, but storm clouds are still looming. 

EARLIER:

MORE than 7000 homes are without power on the Sunshine Coast after rain started to pour across the region this morning.

The power flickered at the Sunshine Coast Daily office as power cut off just after 11.30am.

Maroochydore, Alexandra Headland, Cotton Tree and Nambour are heavily affected by the power outages.

Lights are out on Alexandra Parade and Okinja St at Alexandra Headland. 

>WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE AT YOUR PLACE? LET US KNOW 

Weatherzone predicted a possible thunderstorm today, with north, north westerly winds.

Meteorologists have forecast the rain to clear by tomorrow, with a sunny day predicted with only 5% chance of rain 

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