Australia was hit by more than 1.1 million lightning strikes on Sunday, setting a record of sorts. Central Australia, Queensland and South Australia reported thunderstorms, according to meteorology service Weatherzone's lightning tracker. During these storms, several lighting strikes took over the sky, which startled the experts.

In Uluru, a whopping 719,068 lightning strikes occurred, striking an 800-kilometre area because of a massive band of storms. South-east Queensland faced heavy rain and storms and witnessed lightning strikes 328,627 times.

Around 95,000 lightning strikes happened over northern Australia, 9News reported.&nbsp;

Experts were surprised to see a high amount of lightning strikes in regions where they are normally rare.&nbsp;

"The most remarkable concentration of storm and lightning activity was in Central Australia and arid parts of South Australia and eastern WA, where any amount of lightning tends to be much less common," Weatherzone said.

The storms were a result of two separate troughs. One of them was over central Australia, while the other was over eastern Australia.

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<h2>Heatwaves and thunderstorms in Queensland</h2>

Queensland is facing the likelihood of more thunderstorms and heatwaves, packing in extreme weather conditions in the coming days. The Bureau of Meteorology issued an emergency warning and said the high temperatures might pose a health risk in the Cape Peninsula area.

On Sunday, in south-east Queensland, several concerts were cancelled and thousands of people were evacuated during the severe storm.&nbsp;

Three concerts that faced the brunt were A Day on the Green outdoor concert, British pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor's&nbsp;Sirromet show, and a concert by Take That who also called it off for safety reasons.

On a bull farm at Dalby, Queensland, $30,000 worth of hay bales were struck by lightning and caught on fire.

Australia was hit by more than 1.1 million lightning strikes on Sunday, setting a record of sorts. Central Australia, Queensland and South Australia reported thunderstorms, according to meteorology service Weatherzone's lightning tracker.

Australia was hit by more than 1.1 million lightning strikes on Sunday, setting a record of sorts. Central Australia, Queensland and South Australia reported thunderstorms, according to meteorology service Weatherzone's lightning tracker. During these storms, several lighting strikes took over the sky, which startled the experts. In Uluru, a whopping 719,068 lightning strikes occurred, striking an 800-kilometre area because of a massive band of storms. South-east Queensland faced heavy rain and storms and witnessed lightning strikes 328,627 times. Around 95,000 lightning strikes happened over northern Australia, 9News reported. Experts were surprised to see a high amount of lightning strikes in regions where they are normally rare. "The most remarkable concentration of storm and lightning activity was in Central Australia and arid parts of South Australia and eastern WA, where any amount of lightning tends to be much less common," Weatherzone said. The storms were a result of two separate troughs. One of them was over central Australia, while the other was over eastern Australia. Also Read: THIS flower blooms every 50 years and triggers famine in one Indian state Heatwaves and thunderstorms in Queensland Queensland is facing the likelihood of more thunderstorms and heatwaves, packing in extreme weather conditions in the coming days. The Bureau of Meteorology issued an emergency warning and said the high temperatures might pose a health risk in the Cape Peninsula area. On Sunday, in south-east Queensland, several concerts were cancelled and thousands of people were evacuated during the severe storm. Three concerts that faced the brunt were A Day on the Green outdoor concert, British pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Sirromet show, and a concert by Take That who also called it off for safety reasons. On a bull farm at Dalby, Queensland, $30,000 worth of hay bales were struck by lightning and caught on fire.

Australia smacked by a staggering 1.1 million lightning strikes in one day

Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) and Queensland brace for the crossing of Tropical Cyclone Megan which developed into a category three cyclone and is set to bring heavy rains and potentially destructive wind gusts and lead to widespread damage and flooding in coastal regions in the upcoming week.&nbsp;

<h2>Storm to strengthen?</h2>

The storm, as per Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), is set to cross the Northern Territory town of Borroloola. On Sunday (Mar 17) afternoon, emergency services advised residents who would not be able to shelter safely to move elsewhere.&nbsp;

“Borroloola as of this morning has a heightened risk that was intensified with the intensification of Tropical Cyclone Megan,” said NT Police Superintendent Sonia Kennon, as quoted by ABC News.&nbsp;

The official has also urged the residents to shelter in a safe place and stay inside until the authorities have given an all-clear.&nbsp;

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There is also a 20 per cent chance that Megan could develop into a category four storm when it makes landfall, said BOM.&nbsp;

“It does have enough time that it can strengthen,” said the agency’s Shenagh Gamble, as quoted by the Australian Associated Press, adding that their current forecast indicates that it will not.&nbsp;

<h2>About the storm</h2>

The severe Tropical Cyclone Megan formed over the Gulf of Carpentaria, near the island of Groote Eylandt, on Saturday (Mar 16) afternoon and moved south towards the NT and Queensland border.&nbsp;

As of Sunday morning, it was a category-two storm but intensified as the day progressed. Megan is expected to make landfall as a category three storm late Monday (Mar 18) or early Tuesday near the border between Queensland and NT.&nbsp;

“It’s quite a large tropical cyclone, taking up around one third of the Gulf of Carpentaria area,” said Gamble. According to BOM, the cyclone would have a “very destructive core” when it makes landfall on Monday.&nbsp;

The bureau has also particularly warned residents near the coastal regions between Nathan River and the border as there is a “very dangerous storm tide associated with this system” and they are expected to be “significantly higher than the normal high tides,” said Gamble.&nbsp;

<h2>Situation in Groote Eylandt</h2>

A cyclone alert was in place from Groote Eylandt to Mornington Island and included the far inland town of Borroloola. The authorities have also expressed concern, particularly for remote indigenous communities on Groote Eylandt.&nbsp;

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The small island has received more than 400 millimetres of rainfall in the past 24 hours. Alia Stevenson, a long-time resident of Groote Eylandt told ABC News, that many trees were down across the island, the wharf had been damaged, and water bubbles had formed under the roads.&nbsp;

The rains have also led to the closure of highways, and supermarkets, and residents could not travel between communities, said Stevenson.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) and Queensland brace for the crossing of Tropical Cyclone Megan which developed into a category three cyclone and is set to bring heavy rains and potentially destructive wind gusts and lead to widespread damage and flooding in coastal regions in the upcoming week.

Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) and Queensland brace for the crossing of Tropical Cyclone Megan which developed into a category three cyclone and is set to bring heavy rains and potentially destructive wind gusts and lead to widespread damage and flooding in coastal regions in the upcoming week. Storm to strengthen? The storm, as per Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), is set to cross the Northern Territory town of Borroloola. On Sunday (Mar 17) afternoon, emergency services advised residents who would not be able to shelter safely to move elsewhere. “Borroloola as of this morning has a heightened risk that was intensified with the intensification of Tropical Cyclone Megan,” said NT Police Superintendent Sonia Kennon, as quoted by ABC News. The official has also urged the residents to shelter in a safe place and stay inside until the authorities have given an all-clear. Also Read | UK village ‘distraught’ after dozens of dead animals found dumped outside local shop There is also a 20 per cent chance that Megan could develop into a category four storm when it makes landfall, said BOM. “It does have enough time that it can strengthen,” said the agency’s Shenagh Gamble, as quoted by the Australian Associated Press, adding that their current forecast indicates that it will not. About the storm The severe Tropical Cyclone Megan formed over the Gulf of Carpentaria, near the island of Groote Eylandt, on Saturday (Mar 16) afternoon and moved south towards the NT and Queensland border. As of Sunday morning, it was a category-two storm but intensified as the day progressed. Megan is expected to make landfall as a category three storm late Monday (Mar 18) or early Tuesday near the border between Queensland and NT. “It’s quite a large tropical cyclone, taking up around one third of the Gulf of Carpentaria area,” said Gamble. According to BOM, the cyclone would have a “very destructive core” when it makes landfall on Monday. The bureau has also particularly warned residents near the coastal regions between Nathan River and the border as there is a “very dangerous storm tide associated with this system” and they are expected to be “significantly higher than the normal high tides,” said Gamble. Situation in Groote Eylandt A cyclone alert was in place from Groote Eylandt to Mornington Island and included the far inland town of Borroloola. The authorities have also expressed concern, particularly for remote indigenous communities on Groote Eylandt. Also Read | US says it destroyed Houthi drone over red sea 'to protect freedom of navigation' The small island has received more than 400 millimetres of rainfall in the past 24 hours. Alia Stevenson, a long-time resident of Groote Eylandt told ABC News, that many trees were down across the island, the wharf had been damaged, and water bubbles had formed under the roads. The rains have also led to the closure of highways, and supermarkets, and residents could not travel between communities, said Stevenson. (With inputs from agencies)

Tropical Cyclone Megan: Australia’s Northern Territory and Queensland brace for category-three storm

Western Australia has been hit by a once-in-a-decade storm and more than 60,000 homes have been left without power. Watch report.

Once-in-a-decade storm hits Australia: Nearly 60,000 left without electricity

Huge waves and foam have swept away an estimated 50 meters of beach in Sydney after a storm brought rain and deluge to the city on Monday

Waves sweep up to the foot of beachside homes as storms bring deluge to bushfire-stricken New South Wales

Giant waves, cyclone-strength winds and torrential rain left three people dead on Australia&#39;s east coast today. The storm has forced hundreds to leave their homes. 
 
Two bodies were found in cars washed away in flood, while a man was swept off the rocks south of Sydney&#39;s surfing beach of Bondi, police said. 
 
Waves up to five metres (17.5 feet) pounded much of the east coast, including Sydney. &nbsp;The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of further danger as the storm moves south. 
 
The New South Wales state emergency services said they had received more than 9,250 calls and had conducted 280 flood rescues. 
 
Insurers received more than 11,150 claims with estimated insured losses of $38 million, the Insurance Council of Australia said. It expects the number of claims to rise further over the coming days. 
 
Stocks in Australia biggest insurers, including QBE Insurance, Insurance Australia Group and Suncorp, skidded in a stronger wider market. 
 
But CLSA analyst Jan Van Der Schalk did not see a major earnings impact on insurers who said they were still assessing the impact of the catastrophe. 
 
Australian websites including Channel Nine, Foxtel Play and Domino&#39;s Pizza went down on Sunday when Amazon Web Service&#39;s Sydney zone experienced a two-hour power outage, ITnews website said. 
 
An Amazon spokesman declined to comment, but Amazon Web Services&rsquo; status page today showed several connectivity issues in Sydney had been resolved. 
 
Automated teller machines and point-of-sale banking services were also hit. 
 
A spokeswoman for the Port Authority of New South Wales state said Newcastle, the world&#39;s largest exit point for sea-borne thermal coal, which is used by global miners Glencore, Rio Tinto and Anglo American, was placed on restricted ship movements over the weekend but did not sustain any damage. 
 
&quot;While some sites had minor production interruptions, none of these has impacted our contractual obligations or production forecasts,&quot; Glencore said. 
 
Port Kembla, the largest vehicle import hub in Australia, remained closed as the storm moved south.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of further damage as the storm moves south

Giant waves, cyclone-strength winds and torrential rain left three people dead on Australia's east coast today. The storm has forced hundreds to leave their homes. Two bodies were found in cars washed away in flood, while a man was swept off the rocks south of Sydney's surfing beach of Bondi, police said. Waves up to five metres (17.5 feet) pounded much of the east coast, including Sydney. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of further danger as the storm moves south. The New South Wales state emergency services said they had received more than 9,250 calls and had conducted 280 flood rescues. Insurers received more than 11,150 claims with estimated insured losses of $38 million, the Insurance Council of Australia said. It expects the number of claims to rise further over the coming days. Stocks in Australia biggest insurers, including QBE Insurance, Insurance Australia Group and Suncorp, skidded in a stronger wider market. But CLSA analyst Jan Van Der Schalk did not see a major earnings impact on insurers who said they were still assessing the impact of the catastrophe. Australian websites including Channel Nine, Foxtel Play and Domino's Pizza went down on Sunday when Amazon Web Service's Sydney zone experienced a two-hour power outage, ITnews website said. An Amazon spokesman declined to comment, but Amazon Web Services’ status page today showed several connectivity issues in Sydney had been resolved. Automated teller machines and point-of-sale banking services were also hit. A spokeswoman for the Port Authority of New South Wales state said Newcastle, the world's largest exit point for sea-borne thermal coal, which is used by global miners Glencore, Rio Tinto and Anglo American, was placed on restricted ship movements over the weekend but did not sustain any damage. "While some sites had minor production interruptions, none of these has impacted our contractual obligations or production forecasts," Glencore said. Port Kembla, the largest vehicle import hub in Australia, remained closed as the storm moved south.

Australia storm pounds east coast, leaves 3 dead

A weekend of rough weather in Australia disrupted everything from the internet to shipping and banking, while pummeling coastal towns and exposing insurance companies to hefty payouts. 
 
Stocks in Australia biggest insurers, including QBE Insurance, Insurance Australia Group and Suncorp, were lower on the Australian Securities Exchange, with the wider market trading in positive territory. 
 
A clean-up was underway today after a low pressure system, which brought flooding and strong winds with high tidal surges along the Australian east coast, started to ease. 
 
Australian websites, including Channel Nine, Foxtel Play and Domino&#39;s Pizza, went down on Sunday when Amazon Web Service&#39;s Sydney zone experienced a two-hour power outage, according to the Australian website ITnews. 
 
Amazon first warned of the outage affecting Elastic Compute via its status page on Sunday afternoon, and an hour later confirmed the issue was related to a power problem, the website said. 
 
An Amazon spokesman declined to comment on the matter, but Amazon Web Services&rsquo; status page today showed several connectivity issues in Sydney had been resolved. 
 
The New South Wales state emergency services said it had received more than 9,250 calls and had conducted 280 flood rescues. 
 
A spokeswoman for the Port Authority of New South Wales state said the Newcastle port, the world&#39;s largest exit point for seaborne thermal coal and which is used by global miners Glencore, Rio Tinto and Anglo American, was placed on restricted ship movements over the weekend but did not sustain any damage. 
 
Port Kembla, the largest vehicle import hub in Australia, remained closed as the storm moved south, according to the spokeswoman. 
 
Big waves are expected to pound the coast today, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting another day of dangerous conditions, chiefly south of Sydney. 
 
Banks also needed to restore services to automated teller machines that went down. 
 
Mobile, automated teller machines (ATM) and point-of-sale banking services had been restored after an outage late on Sunday, Westpac, an Australian bank and financial services provider said.&nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;While we aim to ensure continuity of our systems, the severe storm system created disruptions across our network which impacted our services,&quot; it said. 
 
Commonwealth Bank said some of its customers were affected by intermittent problems with another ATM provider. 
 
Jan Van Der Schalk, a CLSA analyst, said IAG and Suncorp faced few catastrophes in fiscal 2016, ending on June 30. 
 
&quot;Hence, there should be no earnings impact because of this event,&quot; Van Der Shalk said. 
 
Insurers said it was too early to tell what the impact might be.

Big waves are expected to pound the coast today, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting another day of dangerous conditions

A weekend of rough weather in Australia disrupted everything from the internet to shipping and banking, while pummeling coastal towns and exposing insurance companies to hefty payouts. Stocks in Australia biggest insurers, including QBE Insurance, Insurance Australia Group and Suncorp, were lower on the Australian Securities Exchange, with the wider market trading in positive territory. A clean-up was underway today after a low pressure system, which brought flooding and strong winds with high tidal surges along the Australian east coast, started to ease. Australian websites, including Channel Nine, Foxtel Play and Domino's Pizza, went down on Sunday when Amazon Web Service's Sydney zone experienced a two-hour power outage, according to the Australian website ITnews. Amazon first warned of the outage affecting Elastic Compute via its status page on Sunday afternoon, and an hour later confirmed the issue was related to a power problem, the website said. An Amazon spokesman declined to comment on the matter, but Amazon Web Services’ status page today showed several connectivity issues in Sydney had been resolved. The New South Wales state emergency services said it had received more than 9,250 calls and had conducted 280 flood rescues. A spokeswoman for the Port Authority of New South Wales state said the Newcastle port, the world's largest exit point for seaborne thermal coal and which is used by global miners Glencore, Rio Tinto and Anglo American, was placed on restricted ship movements over the weekend but did not sustain any damage. Port Kembla, the largest vehicle import hub in Australia, remained closed as the storm moved south, according to the spokeswoman. Big waves are expected to pound the coast today, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting another day of dangerous conditions, chiefly south of Sydney. Banks also needed to restore services to automated teller machines that went down. Mobile, automated teller machines (ATM) and point-of-sale banking services had been restored after an outage late on Sunday, Westpac, an Australian bank and financial services provider said. “While we aim to ensure continuity of our systems, the severe storm system created disruptions across our network which impacted our services," it said. Commonwealth Bank said some of its customers were affected by intermittent problems with another ATM provider. Jan Van Der Schalk, a CLSA analyst, said IAG and Suncorp faced few catastrophes in fiscal 2016, ending on June 30. "Hence, there should be no earnings impact because of this event," Van Der Shalk said. Insurers said it was too early to tell what the impact might be.

From internet to shipping, Australian storm cause large-scale disruption

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