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Brisbane storm: Photos show full scale of destructive cell system

Social media has lit up with striking images from a storm cell that battered Brisbane and South East Queensland, smashing windows, bringing down trees and powerlines and cutting power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses.

The storm, which suspended train services and caused flash flooding in several areas, struck during peak hour on Thursday, causing traffic headaches across the city.

It came just a week after another severe event caused chaos in Brisbane, with flash flooding trapping commuters and submerging cars.

Here are some of the best images from ABC news reporters, our readers and around the web.

In the inner-city suburb of Annerley, one of the worst-hit suburbs, strong winds ripped roofs from houses and a tree pulled from the ground crushed a parked car.

From North Lakes, resident Jared Morgan caught a panorama of the expanse of the storm, which he called "the finger of God".

On the inner north side of Brisbane, fallen trees obscured bike paths and playgrounds.

As residents, SES and army personnel began the clean-up, the damage bill was estimated at about $100 million.

Hailstones as large as cricket balls were reported around Brisbane, and the CBD's shopping district saw its fair share of ice. With festive decorations also swept up in the chaos, it almost looked like a white Christmas.

Debris, including traffic signs, blocked roads all over the Brisbane area, including in the CBD.

At Archerfield Airport, four aircraft were flipped over by strong winds and hangar doors were blown off their hinges.

David from Durack told 612 ABC Brisbane the scene resembled a cyclone.

"I'm seeing fences bent on a 45-degree angle and a helicopter flipped at Archerfield. It was grounded, but geez, there's so much damage."

At Highgate Hill, residents ventured into the street to keep people away from fallen powerlines.

The SES received hundreds of calls for assistance as a result of a storm some Brisbane residents have described as a "absolutely insane".

Graham Metcalf from Energex said more than 80,000 homes and businesses across South East Queensland were left without power.

"We've got around 250 powerlines on the ground that we have been notified of, so that's a very significant storm system," he said on Thursday.

Hail smashed the windows of cars and buildings across the city.

Flash flooding was reported in various parts of the city, after what the weather bureau said was the converging of two large storm cells to create a "super cell".

A tree fell across the Logan Motorway westbound, causing big delays.

Several schools around the city are closed on Friday, with Corinda State High School in Brisbane one of several to see damage.