A severe thunderstorm heading east through Brisbane dumped 80 millimetres of rain in half an hour on Sunday evening, as residents were warned of possible flash flooding.

Much of the city was warned to expect heavy rain as a storm barrelled east on Sunday evening and south-east Queensland's most accurate weather radar remained offline.

The Bureau of Meteorology picked up severe thunderstorms on the radar about 5.30pm.

The cells were near Samford, Albany Creek and Lake Samsonvale at the time but expected to affect Strathpine, Nudgee, Aspley, Boondall, Sandgate and Brighton by 6pm.

The Samford area picked up 80 millimetres of rain in just 30 minutes, with falls still coming, the bureau said.