Low-lying south-east Queensland coastal suburbs could be inundated in coming days with Tropical Cyclone Oma expected to whip up king tides and huge swells, battering the coastline.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A driver was caught out taking on the big swell at Rainbow Beach, north of the Sunshine Coast, on Tuesday and was forced to abandon his ute, leaving it at the mercy of the pounding waves.
The weather bureau has issued dangerous surf warnings for the Capricornia Coast, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island Coast, Sunshine Coast Waters, Moreton Bay and Gold Coast from Tuesday onwards.
A woman swimming in a natural pool in Noosa National Park was picked up and dumped onto rocks by a freak wave on Monday and had to be winched to safety by a rescue helicopter.
The swimmer, aged in her 20s, suffered upper body injuries and was flown to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a stable condition after being treated by paramedics.
She was bashed against rocks about 5pm and the Sunshine Coast RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter was called after it was deemed too dangerous to try and carry the patient to safety.
Meteorologist Harry Clark said the category 2 tropical cyclone was 1400 kilometres north-west of Brisbane at 5am on Tuesday.
It was expected to move south-south-west into the eastern Coral Sea, but the Bureau of Meteorology could not be sure how much of an impact it would have on the Queensland coast.
"High tides with a large and powerful swell will lead to hazardous surf conditions south of the Town of 1770 late from tonight [Tuesday] and tomorrow [Wednesday] morning onwards," he said.
"A severe weather warning is possible later today or tomorrow for even worse surf conditions.
"The coastal impacts are going to be significant, given the high tides and king tides, with the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast to take the brunt.
"The wind and rain impact on Queensland is much more uncertain, with some models bringing it [TC Oma] close to the coast on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but it's a big if at this stage."
Mr Clark said Brisbane's low-lying coastal suburbs were also under threat of inundation.
Lifeguards closed Main Beach on North Stradbroke Island as well as Peregian and Buddina beaches on the Sunshine Coast due to the dangerous conditions on Tuesday.
