Storms destroy home
Update, 12.30pm: A HOUSE has been destroyed and a dozen others suffered damage to their roofs in Woodburn after a storm hit the Northern Rivers last night.
State Emergency Services (SES), Rural Fire Services (RFS), Richmond Valley Council and Essential Energy are currently working to re-establish services and help those affected at Woodburn.
Richmond-Tweed SES acting regional controller Keylene Jones said those whose homes have suffered serious damage in last night's storms had been relocated to friends or families within Woodburn.
"There have been lots of trees and powerlines down in Woodburn from 7pm last night, when the storm hit," Mrs Jones said.
The storm also caused several car crashes in the Woodburn area, including a four-car pile-up at New Italy, fortunately without any injuries.
Rural Fire Service volunteers and Richmond Valley Council are currently working on ensuring roads are cleared during the day.
Lismore SES crews have been sent to Woodburn to assist the local team.
Essential Energy confirmed more than 4400 of its customers were affected by last night's storms.
North Coast Storm Chasers' Antonio Parancin confirmed more destructive storm cells are expected across the Northern Rivers later today and tonight, and advised the population to be mindful of the conditions ahead.
Emergency numbers:
Essential Energy: 132 080
SES: 132 500
ABOUT 2000 homes and businesses around Evans Head and Woodburn are without power after the region was hit by violent storms overnight.
A spokeswoman for Essential Energy told ABC radio crews were working as fast as they could to restore electricity after trees fell on powerlines during the storms.
Meanwhile, the bad weather is expected to continue throughout the day, with North Coast Storm Chasers warning the storms had the potential to cause flash flooding.
The Bureau of Meteorology has dropped a severe thunderstorm warning for NSW and the ACT, although a coastal wind warning remains in place over the border in south east Queensland.
The strength of the thunderstorms caught Brisbane by surprise yesterday, with News Ltd reporting flash flooding and more than 30,000 properties losing power.
