Storms developed in the Southeast Coast district where warnings were issued for the Ipswich, Jimboomba and Beaudesert areas as well as areas immediately west of Greater Brisbane. Golf ball sized hail was reported from Ipswich. From the 24 to 26 January 2004, a ridge of high pressure extended south of Tasmania over to New Zealand. This placed Brisbane in a hot humid north to north westerly air stream for the week. These conditions produced a succession of severe thunderstorms causing widespread damage in south-east Queensland, particularly in Brisbane, Ipswich and the Gold and Sunshine Coasts. The towns affected included, Currumbin, Coolangatta, Fortitude Valley, Woolloongabba, Oxley, Coorparoo, Warrick, Ipswich, Bundamba, Bellbowrie, Calliope, Jimboomba, Beaudesert, Gatton, Nanango, Archerfield, Toowoomba, Kawana Waters, Caloundra, Morerton Bay, Maryborough and Rockhampton. The AWS at Amberley RAAF base recorded a wind gust of 111km per hour and sustained a wind of 100km per hour for a ten minute period. Severe wind combined with large hailstorms caused widespread damage across the affected areas. Houses were subsequently affected by fallen trees and debris. Furthermore there was damage to infrastructure including roads and power lines where 121,000 houses in the Brisbane area lost power. The Insurance Council of Australia estimated the 2004 damage at $28.5m with the 2007 estimated repeated cost of $35m.