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Couple forced to abandon ute as cyclonic waves and king tides combine

If you think you’re having a tough week, spare a thought for this Sunshine Coast couple.

The unsuspecting pair were forced to abandon their Toyota ute as it was destroyed by crushing waves whipped up by Cyclone Oma that combined with king tides to create unsuitable beach driving conditions.

Rainbow Beach Towing & Roadside Assist were alerted to the scene at Mudlo Rocks, north of the Sunshine Coast, on Tuesday morning after the hazardous weather claimed the car.

Any attempts to save the Hilux were immediately ruled out as the wild conditions and abnormally high tides saw the car all but disappear under the waves.

“Once any water has entered the car, the vehicle is an automatic write-off,” the towing company’s co-owner Carolyn Elder told the ABC.

The Sunshine Coast couple were on their way home when they were forced to abandon their ute. Source: Facebook/Rainbow Beach Towing & Roadside Assist
The Sunshine Coast couple were on their way home when they were forced to abandon their ute. Source: Facebook/Rainbow Beach Towing & Roadside Assist
Onlookers and the towing company could only watch on and wait for the tide to subside. Source: Facebook/Rainbow Beach Towing & Roadside Assist
Onlookers and the towing company could only watch on and wait for the tide to subside. Source: Facebook/Rainbow Beach Towing & Roadside Assist

The carnage comes as the category three storm bears closer to the Queensland, threatening to bring gale force winds and hazardous surf conditions to Queensland’s southeast coast.

Low-lying areas around Brisbane and southeast Queensland on Wednesday were subject to flooding as water spilled into streets during the king tides.

Cyclone Oma may cross Queensland coast

As of Wednesday afternoon, Oma was 1150km northeast of Brisbane, however Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Adam Blazak said there was still some disagreement about which path the storm will take.

Forecasters initially dismissed any major chance of the cyclone making landfall, however BoM meteorologist Jonathan How said the deteriorating conditions could see a cyclone warning issued in coming days.

Forecasters say they have not ruled out that the unpredictable cyclone could hit Brisbane and parts of the coast. Source: BoM
Forecasters say they have not ruled out that the unpredictable cyclone could hit Brisbane and parts of the coast. Source: BoM

A severe weather warning remains in place from the Fraser Coast to the NSW border, while BoM also warned of hazardous surf from Tuesday, telling swimmers and surfers to stay clear of the water.

On a more positive note, Mr Blazak said Oma could also potentially bring much-needed rain to drought-affected inland areas of the southeast corner.

“You don’t really want a crossing,” he said.

“But that would be maybe a better scenario than if it lingers off the coast.

“It would end up decaying and dropping rainfall in those dry areas.”

The ute has since been recovered from Rainbow Beach.

The towing company managed to remove the ute after it was destroyed by the waves. Source: Facebook/Rainbow Beach Towing & Roadside Assist
The towing company managed to remove the ute after it was destroyed by the waves. Source: Facebook/Rainbow Beach Towing & Roadside Assist

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