Dangerous surf, thunderstorms and a cold snap on the cards for SE QLD

A teenage girl has been involved in a near-drowning as dangerous surf conditions impact southeast Queensland ahead of severe storms and a cold snap.

A teenage girl has been taken to hospital following a post immersion incident at a Sunshine Coast beach this morning.

Emergency crews, including paramedics and critical care teams arrived on scene near Marcoola Esplanade just after 10.30am Sunday morning.

The swimmer initially reported to be a teenage girl, was transported in a stable condition to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

It comes as hazardous surf warnings, possible thunderstorms and a forecast cold snap are set to hit southeast Queensland from this afternoon following a horror few days on the region’s beaches.

Several beach closures remain in place Sunday morning as Surf Life Saving Queensland have implored swimmers to only swim at patrolled beaches and between the red and yellow flags.

A 34-year-old Victorian man lost his life while out surfing at Mermaid Beach. Picture Greg Stolz

Beaches at Broadbeach, Kurrawa, Mermaid Beach, Miami Beach, North Burleigh, Nobbys Beach, Northcliffe, Tugan, and Southport on the Gold Coast remain closed due to dangerous surf conditions.

⚠️ Hazardous Surf Warning for #SEQld continues tonight. Swell should ease below warning threshold tomorrow but remain significant during Sunday (easterly 1.5 to 2 m, 10 second period). Details: https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o Follow @lifesavingqld advice and always #swimbetweentheflags. pic.twitter.com/NFM8hphiv0

— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) February 6, 2021

Kawana, Wurtulla, and Bokarina beaches on the Sunshine Coast have also been closed due to similar conditions.

A two- to 2.5-metre easterly swell with a period of 10 to 12 seconds has persisted into the morning, with coastal activities such as rock fishing and boating strongly advised against.

The dangerous surf conditions are only tipped to become worse this afternoon, with the Bureau of Meteorology also forecasting possible thunderstorms to make their way to the southeast coast, along with the southern Border Ranges, eastern interior, and the northwest to the north tropical coast.

⛈️Sunday thunderstorm forecast: trough pushing into the southeast, chance of storms making it to the coast. Risk of severe thunderstorms about the southern border ranges, eastern interior, and the northwest to the North Tropical Coast. Warnings if needed: https://t.co/1C6jU5Je4o pic.twitter.com/ChkW2BExH0

— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) February 6, 2021

Surf Life Saving Queensland has this morning taken to social media to remind beachgoers to remain vigilant and to ensure they “swim only at patrolled beaches during patrolled hours” and to “always swim between the red and yellow flags” following three drowning deaths on the Gold Coast.

The region is also set to have a small taste of winter this week, with daytime temperatures throughout the southeast set to be near or below average, with Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast set to hit a low of 18C on Thursday.

Our community has been saddened by the three tragic deaths on our beaches over the past few days.

As we near the end of summer, our lifesavers and lifeguards implore you to swim only at patrolled beaches during patrolled hours. Always swim between the red and yellow flags. pic.twitter.com/ZPUv18vW2A

— Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) (@lifesavingqld) February 6, 2021