Cyclone Oma bringing huge waves to Gold Coast to surfers’ joy

Wave-starved Gold Coast surfers are rejoicing in a solid run of waves look set to continue as Tropical Cyclone Oma nears the southeast Queensland coastline.

WAVE-starved Gold Coast surfers are rejoicing in a solid run of waves generated by Tropical Cyclone Oma.

Boardriders from across the region have made their way to swell hot spots at Duranbah, Burleigh Heads, Snapper Rocks and Kirra to experience the powerful swell.

Big name surfers joining the line-ups have included Joel Parkinson, Owen Wright, Jack Freestone and Hawaiian young gun Seth Moniz, all standing out in the big surf.

Surfers enjoying the larger than usual swell at Kirra Beach due to Tropical Cyclone Oma Picture: Jerad Williams

The first cyclone swell of the season is packing serious punch and has been hailed a godsend for surfers after a slow start to 2019.

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Wave heights steadily increased throughout yesterday from 1.2 metres in the early morning to a solid 2 to 2.5 metres by early afternoon.

Mick Fanning on a jetski as surfers enjoy the larger than usual swell at Kirra Beach due to Tropical Cyclone Oma Picture: Jerad Williams

As the swell grew so did the crowds, with many surfers seen running board in hand to the main takeoff spot at Snapper Rocks.

Just down the road at Kirra, a jetski with former world champion Mick Fanning on the back was seen scouring the line-up, picking up the occasional rogue set, however the world famous break has yet to reach its full potential.

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Surfers getting in on the action. Picture: Jerad Williams

That should happen in the coming days though, as wave heights are forecast to reach potentially “unprecedented” levels of 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 metres) by the weekend.

Coastalwatch forecaster Ben Macartney said yesterday’s swell was just the beginning of a weekend that may be one for the surfing history books.

“It looks clear that TC Oma will produce phenomenal storm swell along the exposed stretches of coast this weekend,” Mr Macartney said.

“(Waves will) peak in the scale-invariant 10 to 15 feet range, while producing powerful surf along the sheltered points ranging anywhere from four to eight feet or more.”