Pieces of debris have been picked up by strong winds from the roof of a Brisbane CBD high-rise and sent swirling down onto the footpath below as severe storms rolled through the River City.

The storms were short and sharp, with most rain falling in a 10-minute period, but the return of blue skies did not mean the threat had passed.

Brisbane office worker Clinton Allison watched the debris spiral down towards the footpath below.

"We were watching the storm roll in with the lightning and rain and we just saw the wind start to whip up through there," he said.