old.sparkles

Severe Weather Warning 1 (QLD)

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

SEVERE WEATHER WARNING
for DAMAGING WINDS, HEAVY RAINFALL, ABNORMALLY HIGH TIDES and DANGEROUS SURF
For people in the
Southeast Coast and parts of the
Wide Bay and Burnett and
Darling Downs and Granite Belt Forecast Districts.
Issued at 10:59 am Friday, 3 June 2016.
Synoptic Situation:
A strong upper trough will move east into the southern interior of Queensland today, shifting into southeast Queensland on Saturday, before moving off the southern coast during Sunday.
A surface trough will deepen near the Capricornia or Wide Bay coast during Saturday, with a low pressure system possibly developing and slipping southwards over southern Queensland waters during Saturday and most likely moving offshore or into New South Wales late Saturday.
A moist easterly wind flow to the south of the surface trough is expected to combine with the upper feature to generate heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding, over areas southeast of about Hervey Bay to Toowoomba to Warwick on Saturday. 24 hour totals of 30 to 150mm are likely over inland parts, with falls in excess of 250mm possible nearer to the coast and ranges.
The heavy rain areas should start contracting southeast during Saturday morning as the trough shifts southwards, easing around Brisbane from mid-afternoon, and easing around the Gold Coast during Saturday evening.
Damaging winds, with peak gusts of around 90km/h, are possible in coastal areas and about the Scenic Rim near and south of the surface trough on Saturday.
The trough or low will also generate large swells as it slips southwards during Saturday, with dangerous surf conditions and significant beach erosion developing about exposed beaches between Fraser Island and the Gold Coast during Saturday morning, contracting southwards out of the Fraser Coast and Sunshine Coast waters during Saturday afternoon.
Water levels on the high tide are likely to exceed the highest tide of the year about exposed beaches between Fraser Island and the Gold coast on Saturday and Sunday, particularly on the high tide Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Locally heavy falls are also possible today and early tomorrow over parts of the central and southern interior though are more likely to be associated with thunderstorms. Severe thunderstorm warnings will be issued as necessary.
A Flood Watch is current for southeast Queensland from Fraser Island to the NSW-QLD border extending inland to include the Upper Condamine, Dumaresq and Macintyre Rivers.
Locations which may be affected include Hervey Bay, Warwick, Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Maroochydore, Gympie, Stanthorpe and Caboolture.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services advises that people should:
* Move your car under cover or away from trees.
* Secure loose outdoor items.
* Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
* Beware of fallen trees and powerlines.
* Never drive, walk or ride through flood waters. If it's flooded, forget it.
* Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
* Surf Life Saving Australia recommends that you stay out of the water and stay well away from surf-exposed areas.
* Check your property regularly for erosion or inundation by sea water, and if necessary raise goods and electrical items.
* For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.
The next warning is due to be issued by 5:00 pm.
Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts, the Bureau's website at Australia's official weather forecasts & weather radar - Bureau of Meteorology or call 1300 659 219. The Bureau and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.

OriginalSunshine

Anyone know how I can find out the OOL airport situation? We are due to fly out on Saturday evening!

Alfresco

Phone them and find out is my best guess.

Contact - Gold Coast Airport

OriginalSunshine

Air Asia - only work Monday to Friday! And they gone home early yesterday....

Anyway, weather is still awful here but flights are coming and going according to the airport website, so fingers crossed!

Alfresco

Clearing up now. Hope the flight still goes ahead. Good luck.

bcworld

Coolangatta is copping it. 150mm in the last 4 hours!

bcworld

Now 210mm in 5 hours.

old.sparkles

That's quite a downpour bcworld - hope you're all okay up there

moneypenny20

It's very wet. I think the airport was shut for a while and some flights were diverted to Brisbane. I wouldn't have liked to take off/land in this weather.

old.sparkles

Severe weather warnings and now flood warnings still in place for parts of QLD

Sorry I don't know the areas so the full list of warnings is here - Queensland Warnings Summary

Stay safe everyone

OriginalSunshine

Thanks all.

Drive to airport was hairy.

Was a bit scary as the airport emptied whilst we were waiting. Melbourne and Sydney flights cancelled as we sit there.

Virgin really looked after their passengers. Jet star didn't.

Luckily our incoming flight landed, and we took off just after 11pm. Bumpy flight but all ok.

old.sparkles

The severe weather warning has now been cancelled and only one minor flood warning still in place.

Time for the clear up - hope everyone is okay

Alfresco

We escaped with no damage up here, unlike NSW etc.