Brisbane 'Supercell' storm: Huge clean-up begins in Queensland

The storm is thought to be the worst in the area for nearly 30 years

Brisbane has endured battering winds, rain and hail-stones the size of golf balls in the worst storm to have hit the Australian city in decades, leaving streets flooded, power lines cut and at least 39 people injured.

The storm struck during the afternoon rush hour on Thursday, trapping commuters for hours in stalled electric trains, while cars were seen driving through high levels of floodwater.

The army has been called in to help emergency crews remove fallen trees, while 12 people are understood to have been injured as a result of the storm.

The storm, with winds gusting as strong as those found in a Category 2 cyclone, has been called a “supercell” storm by meteorologists, and is thought to have caused $100 million (Australian dollars) worth of damage.

The supercell was created when two smaller storm cells merged, creating a huge, complex storm system with a vortex at its centre.

Additional reporting by PA