Gold Coast beaches closed as Cyclone Oma tracks towards Queensland coast
Southeast Queensland is bracing for wild weather with huge swells generated by Cyclone Oma to batter the coast during the week.
Oma is already causing large swells with hazardous surf conditions expected to intensify later in the week.
Gold Coast lifeguards closed several beaches along the Surfers Paradise stretch and further south due to strong currents, and have urged people not to enter the water.
Strong winds and 3 to 4m waves are forecast toward the end of the week as Oma – near Vanuatu on Monday – moves south west.
#CycloneOma should remain well offshore over the next few days. Main threat to QLD is large swell arriving on top of very high tides around southern beaches. Conditions likely to become hazardous, so stay safe and check warnings https://t.co/jwNXuNMq8G Map via Fiji met service. pic.twitter.com/tRcp0pvVZq
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) February 17, 2019
Forecaster Lachlan Stoney said Oma was slow moving but building in intensity, upgraded to a Category 3 on Saturday.
There is a “low risk” of direct impact on Queensland, but rough conditions and coastal erosion were expected.
“We are expecting significant wave heights that will cause some coastal erosion.”
Beaches closed on Monday
– Northcliffe Beach
– Elkhorn Ave, Surfers Paradise
– Wharf Road, Surfers Paradise
– Surfers Paradise Beach
– Clifford Street, Surfers Paradise
– Broadbeach
– Margaret Ave, Broadbeach
– Seashell Ave, Mermaid Beach
– Hilda Street, Mermaid Beach
– Nobby Beach
– Miami Beach
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