Australia hit by huge waves, severe storms
Pastor Dale Morgan
Australia hit by huge waves, severe storms*
December 30, 2007 03:53pm
Article from: AAP
AN intense low pressure system is causing havoc along Queensland's
southern coast, however Fraser Island, directly in the path of the
storm, has been warned the worst is yet to come.
The weather bureau today continued to issue a severe weather warning for
residents south of Rockhampton, including the Capricorn and Bunker
groups, Fraser Island and the Sunshine and Gold coasts.
The low, located about 450km off Fraser Island's Sandy Cape, today
whipped up damaging winds and dangerous surf, causing coastal inundation.
Bureau of Meteorology severe weather forecaster Tony Auden said waves
between four and eight-metres had been recorded on the Sunshine and Gold
coasts, with the biggest wave, nine-metres, recorded in Brisbane.
Wind gusts of 98km/h were recorded at Double Island Point near Fraser
Island, while the Gold and Sunshine Coasts were being hit with 90km/h gusts.
However, Fraser Island was expected to bear the brunt of the storm, with
110km/h winds and five to six-metre swells expected later today.
"Into this afternoon and this evening are probably the most likely times
it could happen," Mr Auden said.
Campers have already been evacuated from Fraser Island's east coast on
orders from the Queensland government.
Tourists staying at the popular island's various resorts and campers
stationed at protected inland and west coast sites were not required to
evacuate.
Mr Auden said the low was "fairly slow moving".
"It's expected to move to the north-west in the next few days and
conditions should ease slightly, but we are still expecting high,
dangerous surf and fairly damaging wind gusts," he said.
Beaches on both the Gold and Sunshine coasts have been closed because of
the dangerous conditions.
"I don't think people should necessarily be walking on the sand, let
alone getting in the water," Mr Auden said.
Gold Coast lifeguard Scott Franzmann said beaches could be off limits
until after New Year's Eve.
"(But) hopefully it'll drop off and people can get back in the water
again," he said.
The weather is also putting the New Year's Eve fireworks display in
Brisbane and the Gold Coast at risk.
Surfers Paradise Alliance chief executive Richard Holliday said strong
winds could blow debris from the Gold Coast fireworks into nearby
high-rise apartments.
"There isn't another venue where we can get the sort of crowd numbers
that are going to attend Surfers Paradise as a matter of course to
celebrate the new year," he told ABC radio.
"So it's either the beach with weather permitting, or, they will be
cancelled because of extreme weather conditions."
Brisbane City Council urged residents to stay away from large trees in
the city's parklands amid concerns those weakened by the prolonged
drought will be toppled by strong winds.
Monsoonal rainfall has also fallen in the state's far north, with up to
220mm drenching the Daintree.