Gold Coast Mayor slams BoM for delayed storm warnings

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate criticised the Bureau of Meteorology’s ‘unforgivable’ failure to issue timely warnings ahead of the deadly storm that lashed the city on Christmas night.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has criticised the Bureau of Meteorology’s “unforgivable” failure to issue timely warnings ahead of the deadly storm that lashed the city on Christmas night.

An “unprecedented” super storm pummelled southeast Queensland on Monday night, destroying houses and tearing down concrete power poles.

But some Gold Coast residents did not receive alerts through the citywide app until the storm was in full force.

Mr Tate said he was emailed an updated warning from the BoM at 9pm that storms would hit the Gold Coast from 8.45pm.

“I’m looking at the sky and we’ve already copped it,” he said.

“We will be talking to (the) BoM about what’s going on regarding the warning because we can’t warn people … it’s unforgivable, so we’ve got to sort it so it doesn’t happen again.”

Mr Tate said he did not want to pressure the BoM while it was “still in the midst of doing things” but would eventually want answers. “Was it (a) staffing issue, technology? We want to know,” he said.

The BoM responded to Mr Tate’s criticism in a statement, saying it had issued a number of weather warnings on Christmas Day. “The BoM can confirm a tornado impacted parts of the Gold Coast and Scenic Rim in Queensland on 25 December,” it read.

“The Bureau issued several severe thunderstorm warnings for destructive winds, giant hail and heavy rain on Monday for the Scenic Rim and the Gold Coast.

“Predicting tornadoes is difficult, and specific warnings are only issued if signs consistent with tornadoes occurring are visible on radar or direct observations of the phenomena are received.”

Mr Tate’s comments come as the BoM faced intense criticism after it failed to adequately predict the intense flooding in Cairns following Tropical Cyclone Jasper last week.

Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr blasted the BoM, telling The Australian the region had been exposed after the Bureau moved local staff to its Brisbane office.

Premier Steven Miles on Wednesday again defended the BoM, saying intense weather could be difficult to forecast.

“I’ve always found the Bureau staff that I deal with are very professional and do their very best to use the information available to them to provide those predictions,” he said.

“They walk a fine line. Often if they predict more than what occurs they get criticised and if they predict less than what occurs they get criticised.”

About 60,000 Gold Coast homes, nearly a quarter of the city, were still without power on Wednesday evening.