A woman and a toddler have been struck by lightning in Queensland.
The pair – a woman in her 30s and a small boy – were outdoors in Mareeba, west of Cairns, when they were attacked about 3.40pm.
They were taken to hospital, both were in critical condition.
A woman and a toddler have been struck by lightning in Queensland
A supercell storm hit Queensland on Thursday, with warnings from the Gold Coast to White Bay of severe and potentially life-threatening storms, large hail and heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding.
The worst affected areas were forecast to receive between 120mm and 200mm of rain.
Emergency services urged residents of the affected areas to stay indoors, not to drive unless necessary and to close doors and windows.
The situation was so serious that the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued warnings from Queensland's central coast to the Darling Downs agricultural region in the southern part of the state, west of the Great Dividing Range.
The latest bad weather to hit the sunny state comes as Far North Queensland continues to clear flooding caused by ex-tropical Cyclone Jasper.
The weather pattern in the southeastern United States could last as long as 48 hourswith more rain and storms possible over the weekend and Christmas Day on Monday.
This has already led to old Petrie Town north of Brisbane canceling its Christmas night markets due to the forecast.
“The possibility of these severe thunderstorms remains across large parts of central and southern Queensland and south-east Queensland into early next week,” senior meteorologist Daniel Hayes said.