Festival expecting cold wet event thanks to an East Coast low

An East Coast low is developing off the southeast Qld coast. Read how this could affect your weekend plans.

The Bureau of Meteorology have released a severe weather warning on Thursday due to a developing East Coast Low off the south coast of Queensland.

The system is expected to gradually move southward while deepening during Friday and is expected to interact with a ridge to the south to produce increasing winds and waves along the northern coastline.

Significant wave heights exceeding 5 metres from an east to south-easterly direction are expected along the coastline north of Wooli from Friday evening until Saturday evening, which may lead to localised damage and coastal erosion.

Locations which may be affected include Tweed Heads, Byron Bay, Ballina, Brunswick Heads, Evans Head and Yamba.

Beach conditions in these areas could be dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf exposed areas.

The low will begin to move away to the southeast on Saturday.

Beach conditions

Surf Life Saving NSW with music fans and holiday-makers set to descend on Byron Bay for Splendour in the Grass hazardous surf conditions are expected to hit the region.

A deepening low-pressure system over the Coral Sea looks to develop strong to possible gale-force east to south-easterly winds along the northern NSW coast on Friday, initially creating 3-5m swell developing along the Coffs and Byron Coasts.

This is expected to drop to 2-4m swell spreading south on Saturday.

While the forecast also predicts temperatures in the teens with a high chance of rain on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, SLSNSW is none-the-less encouraging those who may have plans to visit the coastline this weekend to take care.

Far North Coast Emergency Service Coordinator, Jimmy Keough said SLSNSW wanted to keep the large influx of people heading into Byron Bay for Splendour in the Grass ‘safe’.

“We’ve beefed up our Support Operations in the area, and there will be roving surveillance over the course of the coming days where we will be responding to any aquatic incidents as required, together with other emergency services.”

There are two patrolled locations in the area over winter – Byron Bay Main Beach and Kingscliff Main Beach from 9-5pm, seven days.

“Water, drugs and alcohol simply don’t mix,” Mr Keough said.

“We are not out to ruin the party or anyone’s fun but it’s important for people to realise that dangerous situations both in the water and on the beach can escalate quickly, particularly this weekend with the predicted hazardous surf.

“This not only endangers their own lives but puts our Lifeguards and our volunteer rescue teams who respond at risk as well.”

Police high-visibility operations during Splendour

Police will be conducting a high-visibility operation over the weekend targeting illegal drug use and supply, alcohol-fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour.

Officers from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command will be deployed to the region to target speeding, drink-and-drug-driving and other dangerous driver behaviour to ensure everyone gets to and from the event safely.

Tweed/Byron Police District Commander, Superintendent Dave Roptell, said although patrons may be ecstatic over Splendour being held again, he cautioned festival goers doing the wrong thing will be dealt with accordingly.

“We are preparing for a considerable increase in traffic throughout the Byron Shire before, during, and after the festival – particularly on the Pacific Highway,” Supt Roptell said.

“Please be aware that many Northern NSW roads are still recovering from flood damage and may be closed due to repair works. Plan your route ahead of time, and check the Live Traffic website for up-to-date traffic conditions and local road closures.

“Officers will be conducting regular roadside drug and alcohol testing; anyone caught driving under the influence will be arrested.

“At this stage, we are forecasting some wet weather so please plan ahead, stick to the speed limit and ensure all passengers in your vehicle are wearing their seat belt – we want everyone to get to and from Splendour safely,” Supt Roptell said.

Earlier

An east coast low is forecast to develop off the southeast Queensland coast on Friday, though this system is currently expected to remain offshore and primarily bring wave and wind impacts to coastal areas along the Southern Queensland and northern New South Wales coastline.

The strength of the wind and waves will be highly dependent on the strength and position of the low relative to the coast and will be closely monitored during the next few days.

. A Severe Weather Warning may be issued as early as Thursday. Marine Wind Warnings are already in place for Queensland and New South Wales.

Hazardous to potentially dangerous surf conditions are expected for southeast Queensland beaches exposed to wave action from as early as Thursday and from Friday for northern New South Wales.

A high pressure system lies to the east of Tasmania, and will maintain a ridge across New South Wales and showers along the coast.

A trough over the Coral Sea is expected to deepen and form an East Coast Low offshore from the southeastern Queensland coast by Friday.

This low is likely to generate large easterly swells, as well as bringing strong winds and rain to parts of the coast on Friday and Saturday before it moves away to the east.

Weather for Splendour in the Grass looks set to be wet due to the development of an East Coast Low off the southeast Qld coast.

Senior Meteorologist Jonathan How said the Bureau of Meteorology is monitoring the low which is expected to bring an increase in winds, surf and rain to southern Queensland from Wednesday and northern New South Wales from Friday.

“The strength of the wind and waves will be highly dependent on the strength and position of the low relative to the coast and will be closely monitored during the next few days,” Mr How said.

“At this stage, although some unseasonal rain is expected from Thursday in southern Queensland and from Friday in northern New South Wales, the heaviest falls are expected to be located offshore.”

Due to the soil in the region remaining wet still some localised creek and river level rises are possible.

Wet and rainy conditions are forecast for the East Coast due to a developing low pressure system in southeast Qld.

However there is no expectation the event will cause widespread riverine flooding, and the requirement for a Flood Watch will be reviewed each day.

“This system is expected to bring large seas along with the risk of damaging winds around exposed coastal fringes of southeastern Queensland.

“From Wednesday, strong south-easterly winds will develop along the Queensland coast south of Mackay, and these strong winds will extend into New South Wales from Thursday,” Mr How said.

From Friday, as the low deepens winds are expected to increase with a risk of damaging wind gusts of more than 90km/h on Friday and early Saturday around the exposed coastal fringes of firstly southern Queensland, then northern New South Wales.

Weather warnings for damaging winds and damaging surf may be issued for southern Queensland and northern New South Wales later in the week.