Shops have been flooded and streets blanketed white with hail after a short but severe storm tore through Childers in south-east Queensland on Sunday.

At least one building lost its roof, and a number of trees and powerlines have been brought down in the township, south-west of Bundaberg.

At least one building lost its roof. ( Supplied: Bundaberg Regional Council )

Grand Hotel owner Dennis Corliss said he has never seen anything like it in his two decades in town.

"It came and went within 20 minutes," Mr Corliss said.

"It's incredible, you couldn't believe it. It's just suddenly like you see in movies. I've been here nearly 23 years and never seen anything like it ever.

One business owner cleans up following the lunch time deluge. ( Supplied: Bundaberg Regional Council )

"We saw the dark clouds, we knew there could be a storm. It started to rain and it just kept on coming and coming. The noise of it was horrendous."

Mr Corliss said the only damage sustained at his business was smashed skylights.

"The insurance company will have a bit of fun in town," he said.

Residents are in clean-up mode following the lunch time storm. ( Supplied: Julie Green )

Bundaberg City Council said State Emergency Services crews and other emergency services were out assessing the damage.

"The roof from a council workshop was torn loose and thrown into a neighbouring property with large sections narrowly missing a home and landing some 50 metres from the workshop in Ernest Street," they wrote on social media.

"Shops were flooded, powerlines and trees brought down and trees stripped of foliage, the small hail appeared almost snow like as it covered streets and properties."