Gold Coast weather: Wild storms may return to batter Gold Coast
The thunder, lightning and rain, which lashed at the Gold Coast on Friday, leaving hundreds of homes without power, could return tomorrow.
Lifestyle
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The thunder, lightning and rain, which lashed at the Gold Coast on Friday, leaving hundreds of homes without power, could return tomorrow.
Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Nicholas Shera said showers are forecast this afternoon, with the possibility of a thunderstorm.
“It is unlikely to be what we had yesterday because we have a fair amount of mid-to-upper level cloud, which suppresses the potential for storms,” Mr Shera said.
However, Sunday could see a return of the wild weather.
“It could be a similar story to Friday on Sunday,” he said.
“It might be partly cloudy in the morning and we may get storms coming in from the western ranges moving east in the afternoon.”
Mr Shera said Friday’s thunderstorms could return.
BOM is forecasting southerly winds today with between 10-25mm of rain and 15-30mm tomorrow.
Neranwood had the most rainfall for the 24 hours to 9am this morning, notching up 95mm, while Currumbin Creek recorded 92mm.
Tallebudgera had 86mm and Mt Nimmel 85mm.
Meanwhile this morning five homes in Coomera remained without power following the severe thunderstorms that rolled in across the Gold Coast last night.
An Energex spokesman said all homes in Jacobs Well, Natural Bridge, Norwell, Numinbah Valley and Springbrook had their power restored after Energex crews worked through the night.
He said 22 homes in the Tamborine Mountain area remained without power.
“Crews have worked around the clock to restore power,” the spokesman said.
“On the Scenic Rim we still have customers without power but the majority are in the Brisbane and Logan areas.”
He said the forecast does not look as bad today.
“Having said that, we are always keeping an eye on the forecast.”
LAST NIGHT: 8PM
Just over 150 people are without power after a severe thunderstorm rolled in across the Gold Coast.
Loud thunder could be heard as rain poured down this evening, with the Bureau of Meteorology’s severe thunderstorm warning finally withdrawn.
The Gold Coast Seaway saw 64mm of rain in a matter of hours, while Coolangatta recorded 25mm.
In Tallebudgera, 64mm was recorded, with 73mm at Currumbin, 51mm in Bonogin, 70mm at Neranwood, 40mm at Little Nerang Dam, 79mm in Canungra, 68mm in Helensvale, 49mm at Coomera Shores and 30mm at Lower Springbrook.
177 homes remain without electricity, affecting Coomera, Jacobs Well, Natural Bridge, Norwell, Numinbah Valley and Springbrook.
Trains to and from the Gold Coast are also experiencing delays of two hours due to the weather.
EARLIER: STORMS have begun lashing the northern Gold Coast with hundreds left without electricity.
Energex has confirmed more than 860 people in Pimpama and Ormeau have been disconnected due to “severe weather” damage.
Public transport has also been affected with trains to and from the Gold Coast now facing up to 75 minute delays.
Translink said passengers using the Airport, Gold Coast and Beenleigh services have been affected, along with all other train lines operating from Brisbane.
Gold Coast beaches have been closed and residents warned to take precautions as a major thunderstorm moves in over the city.
Tallebudgera Creek is among those closed, with lifeguards urging people to stay away from the water.
Current weather models show heavy rain will continue across the entire Gold Coast for most of the evening.
The sky turned dark midafternoon as storms began to close in on the region.
A severe weather warning was issued by the Bureau of Meteorology with a “very dangerous” thunderstorm travelling from the southwest.
Earlier models predicted the Coast could be slammed by the brunt of the thunderstorm.
“(There is a) high risk of flash flooding with heavy/intense rainfall, damaging winds likely and large hail possible,” a BOM spokesman said.
“Stay tuned to warnings and radar as storms develop this afternoon.”
Weatherzone’s Craig McIntosh said heavy rain and storms were likely to continue to move across the Coast until about 10pm.
“There’s a very good chance of a severe thunderstorm in the hinterland and heavy downpours scattered across the Gold Coast, particularly the northern area,” he said.
“It would be more likely that the hinterland will get the most severe storms but that’s not to say some (storms) won’t make it to the Coast, I’m not playing down the threat over the Coast.”
Extremely heavy rain fell northwest of the Gold Coast last night, with Beaudesert recording 41mm of rain in just ten minutes while Logan received 37mm in 30 minutes.
The Gold Coast was thrashed with a severe storm last night which sent rays of lightning across the sky and sudden loud cracks of thunder.
Some people enjoyed the light show and took to social media to share their pictures and videos.
Anthony Brown went to Burleigh Hill and took a shot of the lightning between clouds over the Glitter Strip, while photographer Grant Bailey captured a spectacular image of lightning striking the Q1 from a balcony in Southport.
More heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast for this weekend with 40mm of rain expected to fall today and 50mm tomorrow.
Organisers of weekend tennis finals, an outdoor cinema and big horse race meet say they have contingency plans in place to deal with predicted stormy weather.
It would still be all horses go for the $1.5 million Jewel race day on Saturday, Gold Coast Turf Club CEO Steve Lines said.
“In the event the rain gets heavy we take stock and talk with the stewards,” he said.
“At this point in time it’s business as usual and we worry about it if and when it happens.”
Mr Lines said the weather would not dampen spirits.
THREE DAYS OF RAIN AHEAD FOR COAST
HAILSTORMS FALL ON SOUTHERN GOLD COAST
“We’ve got the full downstairs and it’s fully airconditioned to have people comfortable in the event we do get some bad weather,” he said.
“There are a lot of locals coming to it and we’re very excited about it.”
Even the Open air Cinemas at Broadwater Parklands is largely unfazed by wet weather with screenings set to go ahead tonight, tomorrow and Sunday.
Despite being outdoors the event is advertised as all-weather with attendees told to bring wet weather gear.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE GOLD COAST BULLETIN — JUST $1 FOR THE FIRST 28 DAYS
Open air cinemas film program manager Marine Grangier said ticketholders would be notified of a cancellation at 4pm in the event of dangerous storms.
“In the past we’ve cancelled screenings in the morning seeing as the weather was horrendous and it cleared up in the afternoon so we’re trying to avoid this,” she said.
Tennis Gold Coast’s Saturday afternoon competition playoffs will be largely unaffected if play is postponed.
With 68 players set to take the court for semi finals, Tennis Gold Coast secretary Sarah Weise said it wouldn’t matter if the tournament was put back a week.
“We’ve got a spare round so if they don’t get played they’ll be played the next weekend,” she said.
OTHER NEWS:
NightQuarter’s new home revealed
Mayor ‘fat shames’ Coast geese
Bikie says girlfriend caused KFC fight
“We’ve allowed for the finals to be played over three weeks but it only takes two.”
If the Gold Coast receives the 90mm expected during the next two days it will go a long way to boosting the monthly average.
There has been just 29mm of rain this month. The average for March is 129mm.
Weatherzone meteorologist Graeme Brittain said even though rain and storms would be around, there would be little relief from the heat.
A maximum of 33 degrees has been forecast for today, while Saturday and Sunday are predicted to peak at 28.
The March average is 27.9 in the Seaway.
Showers and storms were also forecast for Sunday but the trough would weaken into next week and the city would see less rain, he said.
‘Docusoap’: Dawn of Australia’s reality TV juggernaut
The term “reality TV’ didn’t exist 25 years ago when a ‘docusoap’ was announced, spawning Bardot, one of Australia’s biggest bands of the 2000s, and changing TV forever.
‘It’s exhilarating’: Watch 93yo Betty’s leap of faith
The great grandmother of 12 treated herself to a heart-pumping birthday present, jumping out of a plane at 15,000 feet over Kirra Beach. SEE THE VIDEO