Coastal hazard and severe weather warnings issued for Geelong

Parts of Geelong and the Surf Coast are being lashed with gale force winds, while high tides are expected amid coastal hazard and severe weather warnings.

Abnormally high tides, gale-force winds and big surf could hit Geelong and the Surf Coast on Wednesday, amid a coastal hazard warning.

It comes as the area continues to be lashed with gale force winds.

The weather bureau issued the warning at 4.49am on Wednesday, alerting those along the Victorian coast, including Geelong and Barwon Heads, that conditions could worsen across the afternoon and evening.

Bureau of Meteorology community engagement officer Morgan Pumpa said the wild weather was most likely to hit areas west of Cape Otway, towards Warrnambool.

“Around Geelong it’s mostly just a heads up, there are already high astronomical tides, then a little bit extra swell,” she said.

High tides played havoc with vessels in Corio Bay Wednesday morning.

A 12m long, 7000kg boat was left stranded on top of the pier.

The owner of Corio Princess 83-year-old Charles Neal, received a call from a fellow fisherman to say his boat was in trouble.

“He rang and said my boat was caught on the pier, it was taking a big list, it was one half on the pier, one half off the pier and it was probably going to tip over,” Mr Neal said.

The twin-hull aluminium flat-deck boat was jacked up and set back into the water and was undamaged.

“We use it to take people with wheelchairs out fishing … you will never see a smile like a person out on Corio Bay with a fish on the end of their rod sitting up in their wheelchair, it’s like an impossible dream,” he said.

The Corio Princess caught on Geelong Pier after high tide.

According to the weather bureau tides were expected to be highest across Wednesday afternoon and evening.

“So if you’re on rocks, wear life jackets even if it looks manageable,” Ms Pumpa said.

“We’re not seeing those huge swells, but we could get a few rouge waves.

“The warning is still in place and it’s about not being in the wrong place at the wrong time, wearing life jackets and monitoring the conditions – not just glancing quickly at the water.”

The State Emergency Service (SES) warned community members to stay away from beaches, tidal rivers and creeks during this time and not to walk, ride or drive through flood waters.

The warning followed a separate severe weather warning for damaging winds which remains in place.

Damaging winds of up to 90 km/h were recorded across Geelong and further along the coast on Tuesday.

A wild night of wind in Lorne

Trees fell in Swan Bay, Marcus Hill, Indented Head, Portarlington, Curlewis, Charlemont, Bellbrae and Torquay, while emergency services responded to calls for help in Newtown and Grovedale on Tuesday.

An SES spokesman said volunteers responded to 39 requests for assistance across the Barwon Southwest Region between midday on Tuesday and 9.30am Wednesday.

Volunteers also responded to eight reports of building damage.

Portarlington resident, Vanessa Jones, said strong winds and high tides were being experienced.

An earlier Victoria SES statement has told people to secure outdoor furniture and park vehicles undercover or away from trees.

More to come.

Originally published as Coastal hazard and severe weather warnings issued for Geelong