Lifeguard: Big swells at Rainbow a direct hit

RAINBOW Beach lifeguard Liam Toohey can not confirm if Rainbow Beach will be closed tomorrow but expecting big swells to strip sand form the beach.

WARNING: A severe weather warning has been issued for the south east coast . Picture: Renee Pilcher

FRIDAY PM UPDATE:

RAINBOW Beach lifeguard Liam Toohey is unsure whether the beach will be closed tomorrow but he is expecting to see a lot of sand missing when he shows up to work in the morning.   

Predicted 3m swells coupled with 'massive' high tides tonight and tomorrow are likely to take away a lot of sand at the main beach and leave the beach route to Double Island Point unpassable if Mudlo Rocks becomes exposed, he said.  

RELATED: Gympie on flood watch for weekend 

The lifeguard said the east/north east swell direction predicted for tomorrow heading straight towards the coast will be a "direct hit" to the beach and could see a lot of water moving around and a lot of sand taken away. 

The severe weather, where Queensland beaches face a battering of up to 250mm of rain, could create flash rips, undertows and unstable conditions. 

Sunday's new moon means tides will be big with Friday night's high tide at 2.06m at 6.54pm and Saturday night's high tide at 2.18m at 7.40pm.

Mr Toohey said the beach may be closed tomorrow and swimmers should not enter the water if the flags are not up and there is a 'no swimming' sign. 

He predicts good surfing conditions next week for surfers when waters calm down a bit. 

FORECAST: Rainbow Beach forecast courtesy of Weatherzone. . Picture: Frances Klein

EARLIER:

THE Tin Can Bay Coast Guard is warning boaties to change their plans this weekend in the wake of a severe weather warning issued by the Bureau of Meterology.

Flash flooding, damaging winds, heavy rainfall, abnormally high tides and dangerous surf are expected on Saturday when a 24 hour total of 30 to 150mm rainfall is likely over inland parts of the southeast, with falls in excess of 250mm possible at the coast.

Tin Can Bay Coast Guard base radio operator Dieter Voss said they are advising any boaties from crossing the Wide Bay Bar with waves of four metres expected on the bar on Saturday.

WARNING : Gympie on flood watch this weekend 

The coast guard is also advising people to keep an eye on their anchored vessels.

He said the coast guard will be monitoring vessels in the area, but will also be relying on the public to advise of any drifting vessels.

Wind Warnings for Saturday 4 June

Gale Warning for the following areas:

Capricornia Coast, Fraser Island Coast, Sunshine Coast Waters and Gold Coast Waters.

FORECAST: Gympie's weekend forecast courtesy of BOM. Picture: Frances Klein