Gold Coasters have woken to the loud crackling of thunder and lightning as unexpected thunderstorms bear down on the city.

The early morning wild weather has seen more than eight millimeters of rain fall at the Gold Coast Seaway in just one hour.

Close to 24mm has fallen at Coolangatta since midnight to 6am this morning, while Canugra has copped 12mm since 4.30am.

The storms are expected to ease throughout the morning, with partly cloudy conditions expected across the Gold Coast on Monday.

The city is heading for a top of 25 degrees.

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