Queensland coast put on tsunami alert, huge stretch of Qld on storm watch as heatwave sets in
A tsunami warning for the waters off Queensland has been cancelled but meteorologists have advised unusual waves could still impact beaches. SEE THE VIDEO AND PICTURES
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A tsunami warning for the waters off Queensland has been cancelled but meteorologists have advised unusual waves could still impact beaches.
The Bureau of Meteorology about 9.30am Sunday advised the main tsunami waves, from a volcanic eruption near the Tonga Islands, had now passed all expected Queensland locations.
“Small unusual tsunami waves may continue but are no longer expected to be
dangerous, however a hazardous surf warning is still in effect for the Fraser
Island Coast, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast waters due to ex-tropical Cyclone
Cody,” the bureau stated.
“Tsunami warnings for Queensland are therefore cancelled.”
All beaches from Rainbow Beach, near Gympie, to Rainbow Bay on the New South Wales border are closed today.
“Conditions are unusual and unstable,” a statement from Surf Life Saving Queensland said.
“SLSQ services are asking the general public to not enter the water.”
BOM meteorologist Steven Hadley said the bureau would be keeping a close watch on activity in the Pacific Ocean this afternoon.
Meanwhile, Fiji Airways advised that several flights to and from Australia’s east Coast had been impacted by ash cloud from the eruption.
Flight FJ921 from Nadi to Brisbane was given a new departure time of 12pm while departing Flight FJ920 to Nadi was cancelled and pending a reschedule.
Flights from Sydney and Melbourne have also been rescheduled.
Tsunami waves hit Tonga on Saturday, triggering an alert for Australia, Lord Howe and Norfolk Island, Vanuatu, Samoa, Fiji and NZ.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a marine warning for Sandy Cape to Point Danger including Fraser Island Coast, Sunshine Coast Waters, Moreton Bay, Gold Coast Waters.
The warning came with a possibility of dangerous rips, waves, strong ocean current and some localised overflow along coastal foreshores.
Communities were advised to get out of the water and move away from the water’s edge.
#NSW, #QLD, #LordHoweIsland, #NorfolkIsland under #Tsunami Warning after volcanic eruption near TONGA ISLANDS. Latest info here: https://t.co/Tynv3ZQpEq. pic.twitter.com/u4ouHhjABL
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) January 15, 2022
A second tsunami in Tonga flooded homes, forcing people to higher ground after the “violent’ underwater volcanic eruption was heard in neighbouring countries.
The Australian government is working to determine the extent of the damage in Tonga and any subsequent aid that will be offered.
Large waves crashed ashore in Tonga, after its Meteorological Service issued the warning for the Pacific island nation on Saturday afternoon, as locals posted video footage of water rolling through local neighbourhoods.
The maximum tsunami wave recorded following Friday’s first volcanic explosion was 30 centimetres, and cut power and communication networks off, leaving authorities to communicate through radio.
Meanwhile, severe thunderstorms moved through South East Queensland overnight, bringing lightning, strong winds and heavy falls to some areas.
Toowoomba received 43mm of rain, Canungra 28mm and Applethorpe 28mm.
4mm of rain fell in Brisbane, while wind gusts of up to 59km/h were recorded in the city’s western suburbs.
The storms came after BOM yesterday issued an alert for possible severe storms for northern, northwest, southern inland and southern parts of the state.
“Severe thunderstorms possible in northwest and southern inland,” the bureau said on social media.
“In the north damaging winds gust are possible. Heavy rainfall and damaging winds also a risk for the south.”
The warnings come as heatwave conditions set in, stretching across central Queensland towards the coast near Townsville, with temperatures expected to reach mid-to-high forties over the weekend.
Low-intensity heatwave conditions are also forecast broadly across Queensland, south of Cape York.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Harry Clark said the worst of the heatwave will be confined to the state’s interior.
“It’s fairly severe heatwave conditions, second on the scale out of three,” he said.
“Temperatures will peak around the mid forties, particularly out west.
“It will last three days or more, continuing to around Tuesday or Wednesday next week.”
Beach weather has returned this weekend for Queenslanders located on the east coast however, a hazardous surf warning has been issued for the Fraser Island Coast, Sunshine Coast Waters and Gold Coast Waters.
Brisbane is expected to hit a balmy 31 degrees on Saturday, with Ipswich temperatures reaching 33, and a maximum temperature of 30 degrees on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.
Mr Clark warned beachgoers to watch out for strong surf conditions created by a cyclone near Fiji that is generating a strong easterly swell along the east coast.
“There is a hazard surf warning for exceptionally powerful swell,” he said.
“It will continue all weekend, affecting coastlines from the Fraser Coast all the way down to Byron Bay.
“Good beach weather, but stick between the flags.”
Surf and swell conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, boating, and swimming.
The Bureau of Meteorology will renew the surf warning on Saturday, with swells are predicted to peak on Sunday.
Temperatures will warm slightly on Sunday, with a chance of severe storm activity for most of South East Queensland.
“It will still be warm on Sunday but also a little unsettled,” Mr Clark said.
“There won’t be many storms and for the most part it will just a partly cloudy day, but keep an eye on the radar for weather warnings.”
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