Severe thunderstorms have lashed parts of south-east Queensland, bringing heavy rain, flash flooding and hail.

The SES has received 90 calls for help over the past 24 hours, predominantly from residents in the Moreton Bay area, north of Brisbane.

In Morayfield, the ceiling of Red Dragon Martial Arts centre caved-in under heavy rain.

Brisbane martial arts trainer Arryn Cox said he used himself as a "human shield" to protect his nine-year-old student as the roof of the studio collapsed.

"I basically used myself to cover her just as the ceiling started to fall down, thankfully she was safe and not injured" he said.

"It was a case of where I wasn't thinking or feeling and just went into protection mode".

Owner Brett Fenton said the studio was full of students when the rain poured through. 

"We have a lot of three to six year olds in our school so those were probably the ones that were most scared," he said.

"Our team are experts at teaching that age group, so they calmed them down and played some games and kept them entertained."

He said the centre had closed its doors while the clean-up gets underway.

"A bit of work to do, a bit of cleaning up to do, but you know, hopefully we'll be back up and running in the next few days," he said.

Falls of 50 to 100 millimetres were recorded in parts of the hinterland and southern Gold Coast on Wednesday, with some pockets receiving up to 130mm. 

Mudgeeraba received 165mm of rain in 24 hours, including 100 millimetres that fell in one hour on Wednesday afternoon.

Local Disaster Coordinator Mark Ryan said the SES responded to more than 40 calls for help.

"We do know that water entered some houses, we've had reports of water entering in from the floor, but also from the roof," he said.

Bureau of Meteorology Senior Forecaster Steven Hadley said further rain was expected to continue through Thursday morning but should ease by the afternoon.

"Around the Brisbane area today there's a chance of seven to 25 millimetres, but of course some places will get a bit more than that," he said.

"Tomorrow will be a better day, with a slight to medium chance of a shower through south-east Queensland."

Hail blanketed the road at Morayfield on Wednesday afternoon. (Supplied: Macauley Parker-Burton )

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate said the Bureau of Meteorology failed to provide an adequate warning to residents.

He said a severe weather warning was issued on Wednesday after the storm had already hit.

"They just got to do better and review it — if the software isn't giving them the right information, start looking around," he said.

"I know Mother Nature's unpredictable, but gee, you don't send people that it's going to rain when it's already pouring down."

A Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson said a range of forecasts and warnings were issued about the storms on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"The Bureau acknowledges community concerns and is working with local emergency management partners to better understand the severe weather impacts across south-east Queensland over the past few days," the statement said.

Storm resembled a 'mini tornado'

Barley grower Doug Wunch has lost most of his crop from his property just south-west of Jandowae, in Queensland's Western Downs region. 

He was with his brother-in-law sitting in the cabin of his harvester when the storm hit.

"The storm just started to accumulate and form into a mini tornado," he said.

"The intense hail was that loud, this thing just kept hammering down.

"I watched my crop get hammered to the ground, like a mower slashing through it."

Mr Wunch lost bean crops in January during floods at the same property and was hopeful the barley crop would help him recover from that disaster.

"It's just broken my heart. It was one of the best barley crops I had ever grown," he said.

"My brother-in-law is as strong as an ox — I have never seen him cry in my life, but it shattered him. It shattered me."

Source - https://www.abc.net.au