Chasing an unlikely 561, England were bundled out for 179 in their second innings on the fourth day at the Gabba.
England were 142 for four when a short but dramatic hailstorm precipitated an early tea break.
England skipper Alastair Cook was unbeaten on 65 with Joe Root alongside him on six when the players were taken off the field after Kevin Pietersen (26) and Ian Bell (32) had been dismissed earlier in the day.
Australia declared on 401-7 on Saturday and removed Michael Carberry and Jonathan Trott in the hour before stumps to leave the tourists struggling on 24-2.
The tourists weathered the first hour reasonably comfortably as Australia skipper Michael Clarke opted not to start with the pace of Mitchell Johnson.
The left-arm quick, who took 4-61 as England were skittled for 136 in their first innings, eventually came on and bowled two overs before the drinks break but without causing the batsmen too much trouble.
Two balls after the resumption of play, though, Pietersen decided to take on a Johnson short ball but mistimed his hook and a thick top edge sent it straight to substitute fielder Chris Sabburg at deep backward square leg.
It was an unnecessary shot from an experienced batsman and robbed Pietersen of a decent score in his 100th Test.
Cook, composed and defiant, reached his 33rd half century soon after lunch with the second of only three fours in his innings but his promising partnership with Bell was broken half an hour later.
Bell, who scored three centuries when England won the opening Ashes series of the year 3-0, hung his bat out to a bouncy Peter Siddle delivery outside off and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin took the catch behind the wickets.
Cook survived a chance when his counterpart Clarke missed a difficult chance at first slip and by then England's Barmy Army of fans were looking hopefully to the thunder and lightning on the horizon.
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