Weather: 19 out of the first 21 weekends of the year have been wet
Rain dampened the city but not the spirit of those flooding into the Gold Coast for one of its biggest event weekends. SEE THE LATEST FORECAST
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RAIN dampened the city but not the spirit of those flooding into the Gold Coast for one of its biggest event weekends.
Blues on Broadbeach and Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show organisers still welcomed tens of thousands despite more than 100mm of rainfall in parts of the city at the weekend.
The Gold Coast is bracing for more wet weather and cooler temperatures for the week ahead with forecasters predicting rain to stick around until the end of it.
Bureau of Metrology Forecaster Jonathan How said the rain would remain until late Friday.
“So it looks like a wet week and fairly cool as well, it is not looking that great for beach goers with maximum temperatures a little bit lower than average, we are looking at low 20s for the next week,” Mr How said. “The good news for those hanging out for a bit of dry weather and sunshine, we will see some dry conditions developing by late Friday.”
He said The Bureau of Metrology’s winter outlook predicts a wet winter and cooler than average temperatures for the South East.
“We have issued our winter outlook for Queensland and the Gold Coast, and there is a greater than 50 per cent chance of seeing wetter than average conditions across winter,” he said.
“And in terms of temperature, it is looking to have a greater chance of being colder than average.”
He said on the weekend Monterey Keys received the highest rainfall of 103mm and many other parts of the Gold Coast closely followed.
Carrara had 87mm, Burleigh Waters and Currumbin Creek had 78mm, Pacific Pines had 76mm and Tallebudgera had 69mm, he said.
People from interstate and intrastate were not deterred braving heavy rain and strong wind to see big artists such as The James Morrison and Motown Experience perform at Blues festival. Blues on Broadbeach director Mark Duckworth said the rain did not scare away the loyal fans.
“Our fans were under umbrellas and bobbing along to music still. We have managed to be quite agile and get it all together,” he said.
“They are such a passionate blues crowd who travel here every year.
“The restaurants and bars were busy, everyone seemed to be having a good time.”
He said just a few outdoor shows were axed due to rain.
“We had to cancel some shows on the outdoor stages but other than that the event has just continued on as it has for 21 years.”
At the boat show, Mulpha Events general manager Johan Hasser said 43,852 visitors turned out: “We had a brilliant two days of opening on Thursday and Friday and despite the weather providing some challenges over the weekend, the atmosphere continued to buzz throughout the precinct from the Pavilions to the marina.
“Our exhibitors have been extremely happy with the quality of buyers coming through the gates, reporting strong sales and interest across the board.”
Forecast ‘looking grim’ for Coast on election day
Meteorologist Helen Kirkup says the forecast is “looking pretty grim” for the Coast on Saturday and the rain is set to stick around.
So, make sure you grab your umbrella when you venture out to vote.
Ms Kirkup said the Coast had received up to 50mm of rain in the last 24 hours and could expect the same numbers again on Saturday night.
“It’s looking pretty grim,” she said.
“It’s going to stick around on Saturday and clear out later tomorrow.
“But, Saturday won’t have too much change to it’s morning.”
She said there was a strong wind warning forecast for the Coast on Saturday and Sunday.
Ms Kirkup said there was no flood warnings issued for the Coast but advised residents to stay up date on information.
MAY 14:
Those sitting inside tired of having junior sport and outdoor events disrupted should consider this: Rain has fallen on the Gold Coast in 18 of the first 20 weeks of the year.
And it is certainly not finished.
As the La Niña phenomenon continues to be a pest, Bureau of Meteorology data shows the city has already received up to 1600mm of rainfall in the first five months of 2022 – 400mm more than last year.
To put that in perspective, the average monthly rainfall for May is 109mm.
The bureau expects it to continue with June-August tipped to bring rainfall above the median. It will be colder with it.
As the city neared the end of another wet week, Upper Springbrook was soaked by 162mm in the 24 hours to 9am on Friday; 107mm fell at Tamborine Mountain and 114mm at Beechmont in Scenic Rim.
Coolangatta received just 2.8mm, Gold Coast Seaway 2.4mm and Steiglitz Wharf 12mm in the same time frame.
Wild weather has forced the closure of more than 70 sporting ovals across the Coast, including Broadbeach State School, Elanora State High School, Ormeau Woods State High School, Varsity College Oval and Upper Coomera State College.
It also disrupts sporting codes, with junior rugby league and rugby cancelled.
Beaches and several roads were closed on Friday, while boats in and around the Gold Coast copped a thrashing in hazardous conditions.
A houseboat that broke free on Wednesday was washed up on the shore at Broadwater Parklands on Friday morning.
Curious passers-by stopped to check out the unusual sight.
On Wednesday afternoon and into the night, Volunteer Marine Rescue and Gold Coast Water Police were involved in a “massive operation” to help a tall ship.
The 44m-long Soren Larsen sailing vessel – which can be privately chartered and sails on Sydney Harbour most days – struggled in the weather and a crew member suffered a nasty cut to his foot.
While the wet weather is due to drag on until late next week, the rain is expected to ease somewhat from Sunday and the worst of the wild conditions statewide will skip the Gold Coast.
“The Gold Coast can breathe a sigh of relief,” bureau meteorologist Helen Reid said.
However, an initial flood watch for southeast Queensland, which included Gold Coast creeks and rivers, remained active early Friday afternoon.
“Catchments in the flood watch area are generally saturated from rainfall over the last few days and weeks,” the bureau stated. “Smaller creeks and tributaries may respond rapidly to further rainfall.”
The city’s three sandbagging stations have been open from 6am-6pm at 232 Old Pacific Hwy, Pimpama, 42-44 Boyd St, Bilinga and 61 Hutchinson St, Burleigh Heads.
“Please drive carefully and to the conditions,” the council stated, urging motorists to stay home if it appeared unsafe on city roads.
Tallebudgera Creek Road at Tallebudgera, Birds Rd at Guanaba, Clagiraba Rd at Clagiraba, Lanes Rd at Wongawallan, were closed on Saturday due to flooding.
MAY 13:
A tall ship has been rescued in rough surf and roads and beaches have been closed – but the Gold Coast can now “breathe a sigh of relief”, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Meteorologist Helen Reid said a weather system battering Brisbane was skimming the Gold Coast, but it was not likely conditions would worsen on Saturday or Sunday.
Ms Reid said there was a possibility the system would shuffle towards the Gold Coast but it was not likely.
“The Gold Coast can breathe a sigh of relief,” she said.
Ms Reid said rainfall soaking the region was expected to ease on Sunday.
It’s been blowing a gale in some parts of the city.
The bureau forecast north-easterly winds of 15-25 km/h tending easterly 15-20 km/h into the evening on Friday.
A houseboat which broke free on Wednesday was washed up on the shore at Broadwater Parklands, Southport on Friday morning.
On Thursday night, neighbouring Scenic Rim Regional Council sent an advice message to residents, warning them of heavy rainfall and flash flooding.
“Multiple roads are currently being impacted by flooding and road closures are in place,” it read.
“Everyone in the SRRC area is urged to stay up to date with the latest information from the Bureau of Meteorology.”
Upper Springbrook was drenched by 162mm in the 24 hours to 9am on Friday, while 107mm fell at Mount Tamborine and 114mm at Beechmont.
Coolangatta received just 2.8mm, Gold Coast Seaway 2.4mm and Steiglitz Wharf 12mm.
Ms Reid said the bureau had escalated a hazardous surf warning to a dangerous surf warning on Friday morning for exposed beaches.
Gold Coast City Council announced on Friday morning all beaches would remain closed due to the unstable conditions.
âš ï¸ðŸŒŠSevere Weather Warning for Dangerous Surf for southeastern coasts. Locations which may be affected include#GoldCoast, #Maroochydore, #MoretonIsland, #NoosaHeads, #Caloundra and #RainbowBeach. Details https://t.co/FBmpsInT9opic.twitter.com/32twI5PFue
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) May 12, 2022
The City’s three sandbagging stations are open from 6am – 6pm on Friday.
They are located at: 232 Old Pacific Highway, Pimpama (next to City of Gold Coast Coomera Depot), 42-44 Boyd Street, Bilinga (use the service road, next to the City of Gold Coast Tugun Depot) and 61 Hutchinson Street, Burleigh Heads, (Reedy Creek Waste and Recycling Centre).
Signage is in place on site to direct motorists to the sandbagging stations.
“Please drive carefully and to the conditions,” a Gold Coast City council message said.
“If it’s unsafe to be on the roads, please stay home.”
FLOODED/CLOSED ROADS AS OF 9.30AM FRIDAY:
– Birds Road, Guanaba
– Clagiraba Road, Clagiraba
– Tarata Road, Guanaba
– Lanes Road, Wongawallan
Tall ship runs into trouble on Gold Coast
Volunteer Marine Rescue Southport has told of a “massive operation” to assist a well-known tall ship and its crew members being thrashed by wild weather off the Gold Coast.
Gold Coast Water Police and the marine rescue organisation were called to assist “distressed” crew aboard the 44m long Soren Larsen sailing vessel trying to enter Gold Coast Seaway on Wednesday.
“Given the sea conditions offshore, meeting the vessel at sea was not an option,” a VMR Southport statement read.
The Soren began “taking on a substantial amount of water and urgently needed pumps” by about 9pm and was impacted by an “engine room fire” about 10.30pm.
“Soon after, the vessel indicated it had lost all engine power and was going to anchor on Deadman’s Bank north east of the Seaway. In doing this the vessel lost its main anchor.” VMR said.
“A short time later the vessel reported the engine was now running again, the fire was controlled, but the water intake was so bad, there was grave and imminent danger to the vessel, however, they believed they could enter the Seaway.
“Soon after, this was attempted successfully, with a massive amount of sparks emanating from an exhaust stack on the vessel, however the skipper reported this to be OK.”
The Soren proceeded into the Broadwater and unsuccessfully tried to anchor adjacent to VMR before a successful attempt further upstream.
“VMR had already supplied two water pumps to the ship and these were working flat out,” VMR said.
Rescuers were called off about 11.45am, but VMR was contacted by police soon after advising a crew member had suffered a severe cut to his foot.
“VMR returned to the scene, and took the crew member off the ship, provided medical assistance, and then organised for the patient to be taken to hospital,” VMR said.
“The ship now appears safe, with a lot of repair work needing to be done before it can again set sail on its journey south (to Sydney).”
VMR thanked the Soren’s crew for their co-operation, police for co-ordinating and its own crew tasked on the night.
The Soren can be privately chartered and sails on Sydney Harbour most days for lunch and twilight dinner cruises, according to the Sydney Harbour Tall Ships website.
“Venture onto the open ocean aboard Soren Larsen for whale watching to witness the spectacle of the annual whale migration to and from Antarctic waters,” the page reads.
“From time-to-time Soren Larsen sails beyond Sydney and this is your chance to fully immerse yourself in ocean sailing at its finest.”
Roads and beaches closed for another day
May 12: Roads and beaches on the Gold Coast have been closed for another day as the region braces for more wet weather and increasingly hazardous conditions.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast rain on the Gold Coast until at least next Thursday.
Upper Springbrook received 108mm of rain, Oxenford 61mm and Biggera Dam 29mm on Wednesday.
Bureau hazard preparedness officer Brooke Pagel said meteorologists would be keeping an eye on areas where intense bursts of rainfall were expected in case of any flash flooding.
“There will be really high rainfall on Thursday and Friday,” she said.
“It will likely ease off to showers on Saturday.”
Ms Pagel said there was a flood watch active for the Tweed River, but no flood watches on the Gold Coast on Thursday morning.
Forecasters predicted 10-20mm of rain in the city on Thursday, however, Ms Pagel said heavier rainfall could bring higher totals in some areas.
She said there was a system over Brisbane bringing up to 50mm, which could move towards the Gold Coast.
Ms Pagel said there was a hazardous surf warning planned for Friday and she encouraged beachgoers to listen to lifeguard and lifesaver instructions – if beaches are not closed again.
“We want people to keep an eye on weather warnings,” she said.
“Stay safe on the road.”
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services was called to two swiftwater rescue jobs on the Gold Coast on Wednesday night, on Birds Road at Guanaba and Hardys Rd at Bonogin.
No occupants were in or around the vehicles when rescuers arrived, so they were called off.
Gold Coast City Council has closed almost ten roads due to flooding (listed below).
The council has been “monitoring the weather situation closely”.
“The current forecast indicates that the Gold Coast is likely to continue to receive heavy falls into Friday,” a council statement read.
“While the rainfall is not expected to cause major flooding, we know the catchments have received a lot of rain in recent months and it could lead to flash flooding.
The council’s three sandbagging stations are open from 6am-6pm at 232 Old Pacific Hwy, Pimpama, 42-44 Boyd St, Bilinga and 61 Hutchinson St, Burleigh Heads.
Signage is in place on site to direct motorists to the sandbagging stations.
If it’s unsafe to be on the roads, please stay home.
On Wednesday, More than 70 sporting ovals in the city were closed due to the wet weather.
Ovals closed included Surfers Paradise Demons Sir Bruce Small park, Parkwood Sharks Musgrave sports park, Mallawa Sports complex, Coomera Magpies Coomera sports park and more.
To check out the full list of closures visit www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au and click through to sporting field closures.
“We keep our sport and recreational facilities open as much as possible to maximise use. But sometimes we need to close sports fields because of wet weather, or for maintenance,” a council spokesperson said.
“It is not possible for Council officers to inspect all sports fields within all parks and weather conditions may change during this time.
“In these cases, it is the responsibility of the respective club onsite to determine playing and/or training conditions.”
ROAD CLOSURES:
– Lanes Rd, Wongawallan.
– Berrigans Rd, Mudgeeraba.
– Tarata Rd, Guanaba.
– Birds Rd, Guanaba/Maudsland.
– Hardys Rd, Bonogin/Mudgeeraba.
– Clagiraba Rd at Clagiraba.
– Hotham Creek Rd at Willow Vale.
– Kianga Crt, Currumbin Valley.
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