Giant hailstones hit parts of south-east Queensland as region braces for more severe thunderstorm activity

Parts of south-east Queensland have been hit by giant hailstones with the region on alert for more storm activity, including damaging winds and heavy rainfall on Saturday afternoon

At Pratten, west of Warwick in the Southern Downs region, nine centimetre giant hail – large enough to cause damage to cars and homes – was reported at about 1pm.

At MJ's Cafe in the rural township, about two-and-a-half hours west of Brisbane, opening day turned chaotic when "tennis ball-sized hail" hit.

Owner Richard Manley said the roof was entirely "smashed in" when the storm moved quickly through town.

"We basically had everyone huddled in our kitchen area because the roof came down in the actual bar area," he said.

"There was golf ball-sized hail coming into the bar smashing into the counter."

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