Rain to offer sweet relief as heat rises across Queensland - Couriermail.com.au
IT'S beginning to feel a lot like summer with the classic cycle of humidity and relieving showers expected in coming days.

Get ready for a weekend scorcher as temperature rise in southeast Queensland - Courier Mail
BREAK out the sunscreen and plan a beach trip because the southeast is set for a warm and humid weekend.

More extreme weather on Australia's radar - News.com.au
THE nation's largest insurers have warned Australians to brace for more catastrophic weather brought on by a rising global temperatures.

La Nina whips unseasonal weather into a wet frenzy - SMH.com.au
ALMOST 70 centimetres of rain was dumped across Australia last year, making it the third wettest year since uniform rain records began in 1900.

2011 weather report card 3rd wettest on record - ABC Rural
The annual climate report released this morning by the Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed what we all knew: that 2011 was a very wet year, indeed the third wettest since records began in 1900. The mean total rainfall was 699 millimetres which is 234 millimetres above average.

Good weather saves Queensland tourism - ABC News
The Queensland Tourism Industry Council says good weather over the festive season has saved many operators from bankruptcy, after natural disasters devastated the sector last summer.

Dire 'heatwave' unlikely for Gold Coast

Temps are only likely to increase 2-3 degrees around next Sunday and Monday, but nothing as hot like the 'heatwaves' in the high 30's and low 40's hitting the western and central parts of Queensland or other states.

Tide times tweeted twice a day? Terrific!

Gold Coast Seaway tide times will be auto-Tweeted twice a day at 5:30am and again at 5:30pm, with the data sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology's South East Coast Boating Forecast.

We'd love to know what times of the day you'd prefer to receive them? Are there any other locations you'd like to see? Let us know!

What do you want from weathergc?

It's been a while since I've made a post on this site - particularly after the terrible events of the January 2011 floods in Queensland.

Since then, after seeing the devastation and heartache of the floods, and being directly involved in the disaster coordination and recovery efforts in both the Somerset and Lockyer Valley regions - I never regained my motivations to continue to provide commentary on weather events around the Gold Coast and South East Queensland. 

 I would like to hear your comments on why you came to this site and what you would like to see? 

- Historical information or research? (e.g. weather facts for the Gold Coast like records for lowest temps, etc?),

- Find out what the weather is doing now? (e.g. looking for live data on weather observations, satellite images, radars, etc?) 

- A single point of reference? (using the Community Pulse or Links and Resources page to find other weather related information on other sites?)

- Review weather news summaries without having to find the articles on multiple different sites yourself?

Additionally, if you are also interested and passionate for weather and related events and live on or near the Gold Coast or even in South-East Queensland and would like to become a contributor to the site, I'd love to hear from you as well.

Thanks for your time.

Northern Gold Coast now in firing line - Gold Coast Bulletin
THE northern parts of the Gold Coast are now in the flood firing line, with more heavy dumps of rain expected over the next 24 hours.

Lower Beechmont residents stranded - Gold Coast Bulletin
RESIDENTS at Lower Beechmont are stranded after heavy rain overnight blocked all roads into the area. Beechmont Road has been closed since Friday because of a landslide but overnight rain has flooded a crossing at Sharpe's Bridge, near Canungra, cutting off all access to the area.

Rain wreaks havoc on Coast roads - Gold Coast Bulletin
BIG wet landslips and localised flooding played havoc with Gold Coast roads yesterday, with traffic woes across the region.

Gold Coast dodges storm bullet - Gold Coast Bulletin
THE Gold Coast appears to have dodged a bullet with a revised weather forecast predicting the devastating rain band that has tormented the south east to ease over the next few hours.
Coast spared the worst of the weather - Gold Coast City Council
The predicted overnight rains did not materialise, sparing the Gold Coast from the worst of the wet weather.

Coast fairs well in big wet

The Gold Coast has missed most of the anticipated 200-400mm of rain over the last 48 hours, with the heaviest falls staying north and west of Brisbane.

There were some large falls up to 130mm in the hinterland areas of Clagiraba and Springbrook on Sunday, and Springbrook again today with approx 70mm, however most of the coast stayed relatively dry with only 20-60mm received in the last 2 days.

There are still road closures across the city at the moment, including Guanaba Creek Road, Guanaba, and Birds Road, Maudsland, Hardys Road, Mudgeeraba and Clagiraba Road, Clagiraba.

Whilst some news stories are predicting another 300mm of rain in the next 48 hours, in my opinion it doesn't seem likely we'll receive any real rain tomorrow with just frequent light-moderate showers easing on Wednesday for the rest of the week.

However, there is still a Severe Weather Warning in effect for potential heavy falls and thunderstorms causing localised flash flooding overnight.

Rainfall forecasts for Tuesday show a potential falls of between 50-100mm.

Bullseye over Gold Coast says Bureau - Gold Coast Bulletin
UP to 300mm of rain is set to be dumped on the Gold Coast over the next two days, say weather experts...The worst of the weather that has inundated much of Queensland has missed the Coast so far, but now flash flooding and strong winds can be expected, with the Hinterland and Coolangatta expected to be worst hit...Marine meteorologist Dr Roger Badham, of Marine Weather Services, said the Coast was in line to cop a mini-version of the weather system that hit central Queensland.

Wild weather leads to road closures - Gold Coast Bulletin
GOLD Coast roads are struggling to cope with the wet weather, with traffic disrupted by landslips and localised flooding.

Bureau says 300mm coming Coast's way - Gold Coast Bulletin
THE Gold Coast's big wet is about to get worse -- 300mm worse -- starting tonight. Emergency services are gearing up for a tough couple of days, with heavy rain -- the Bureau predicts up to 300mm over the next two days -- and flashflooding on the way.

Severe weather warnings issued - News.com.au
SEVERE weather warnings have been put in place for parts of northern and southeast Queensland.

Flash flood threat for Queensland - News.com.au
RAIN threatens flash flooding and is hampering clean-up attempts in the southeast of Queensland.

Severe Weather: Up to 400mm over 4 days

Latest rainfall forecasts could see up to 300-400mm falling on the Gold Coast over the next four days, with heavier falls developing from Sunday, sticking around Monday and easing on Tuesday.

The Bureau's Rainfall Forecast Maps for Sunday has downgraded falls to between 100-150mm for the majority of the coast, within only the exposed mid-coast forecast to receive the 150-200mm.

However, the majority of the rain will now fall on Monday saturating the entire south-east corner, with areas north of Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast possibly in for 200-300mm. Our region could get anywhere from 100-200mm on Monday.

The latest Severe Weather Warning for heavy falls causing localised flash flooding has been extended to include eastern parts of the eastern Darling Downs and Granite Belt districts along with Southeast Coast & Wide Bay districts.

At 10am EST, an upper level low was located offshore of the Capricorn coast. A surface trough was located offshore of the southern Queensland coast. Both of these systems are expected to move closer to the coast today.

Rain areas and thunderstorms are expected to increase further through the Southeast Coast district and southern parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett district today. The heavy rain areas are expected to move into the eastern parts of the Darling Downs and Granite Belt District overnight. Some heavy falls are likely which may lead to localised flash flooding and/or worsen existing river flooding.

This is also on top of a Coastal Wind Warning for strong winds between Point Danger and Noosa including Moreton Bay :

A trough lies offshore of southern Queensland waters and will move closer to the coast during the day. A high lies near New Zealand while another high is moving east over the Great Australian Bight.

SE/NE winds 25/30 knots at times. Seas rising to 2.5 to 3 metres in open waters with a 2 to 3 metre E/SE swell. Winds are expected to ease below 26 knots north of Point Lookout during Monday morning.

As at 11am this morning, the Gold Coast remains one of the few areas within the south-east corner that has escaped any minor-major flooding (other than localised flash flooding). However, whether that remains true over the next 2 days will certainly be tested.

Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke sent a message just prior to Christmas " If it's flooded, forget it!"

“Gold Coast is one of Queensland’s hot spots for motorists rescued from flash floods,” according to Cr Clarke.

“Driving through flooded roads, especially on causeways, can be fatal,” he said.
Hidden dangers include:

• being washed from a causeway – it takes just 30 centimetres of slow flowing water to wash away any type of car, even a four wheel drive

• pot holes and submerged debris which can snag your car in rising water

• stalling in rising water

• collapsed causeways and roads washed away without warning.

If you get stuck or see someone else in difficulty in a flash flood, phone the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service on 000 immediately.

Floods: severe weather warning - News.com.au
STATE braces for more flash flooding as foolish drivers frustrate police and mines try to clean up.

Don’t floor it through floods - News.com.au
POLICE in Queensland are becoming increasingly frustrated at people trying to drive through floodwaters.

Floods keep tourists away from Gold Coast - ABC Online
A tourism executive says reports about Queensland's flood disaster are keeping interstate visitors away from the Gold Coast.

Rain set to continue on Coast - Gold Coast Bulletin
IT has been another wet day for the Gold Coast and the weekend forecast is not looking much better.

Heavy rain for Sunday

Up to 150-200mm of rain could fall on the Gold Coast on Sunday.

The Bureau's Rainfall Forecast Maps as at Friday night predict the Gold Coast along with surrounding areas of the Hinterland and Logan to get the heaviest rain, with falls of 100-150mm for Brisbane and Ipswich.

This will be followed on Monday and Tuesday with more rain of approx 50-100mm on both days.

The current forecasted total rain in our corner of Queensland is set to receive the most over the next 4 days, with a possible total of 300-400mm.




The Bureau still has a Severe Weather Warning current for heavy falls causing localised flash flooding for people in the Southeast Coast & Wide Bay districts.

The State Emergency Service advises that people in the affected area should:
� avoid driving, walking or riding through flood waters
� take care on the roads, especially in heavy downpours
� avoid swimming in swollen rivers and creeks

Contact the SES on 132 500 for emergency assistance if required.

Windy, wet and wierd

What was expected to be a fine Saturday night / Sunday morning with showers 'cheifly inland', appears to have changed it's mind.

After some relatively windy conditions and showers, the weather radar at around 2am shows a distinct clockwise 'swirling' motion, with a rain band on the southern side/approach.

This image is not to dissimilar to previous 'east coast lows' and other low pressure systems that bring a bit of rain (sometimes moderate to heavy falls).

Now call me eager, but I think there's going to be than just 'fine' conditions coming up on Sunday morning.

Otherwise, as most people are sleeping or never actually read these posts, it probably doesn't matter anyway! Leave a comment to prove me wrong - are you reading this at 2am?

Batten down the hatches

Damaging 90km/h wind gusts and flash flooding is possible for people in the Southeast Coast district after the Bureau updated it's Severe Weather Warning at 11:05 am on Sunday 10 October 2010:

The combination of an intensifying high over the Tasman Sea and a deep trough off the southern Queensland coast is expected to produce wind gusts in excess of 90 km/hr, mainly along the exposed coast and over the islands.

As the trough moves closer to the coast expect increasing rain during the day with locally heavy falls developing from the south, particularly late in the day or overnight, with the possibility of flash flooding.

The State Emergency Service advises that people in the affected area should:
· seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees
· secure loose outdoor items
· beware of fallen trees and powerlines
· avoid driving, walking or riding through flood waters
(Source: BOM)

Additionally, Emergency Management Queensland issued a Severe Weather Advice today:

Emergency Management Queensland is urging all residents along the southern Queensland coast to prepare for heavy rain and strong wind gusts later today and tonight.

The Bureau of Meteorology has advised that strong wind gusts will occur in coastal areas with increasing rain throughout the day and heavy falls developing in the afternoon or tonight, with the possibility of flash flooding.

State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers are on standby but residents are being reminded to prepare their homes to best avoid damage to property.

People are being urged to listen to local radio, secure loose items, clear their gutters and to seek shelter indoors and not under trees.

A flood warning remains current for Sunshine Coast streams and Hinterland areas and people in those areas are reminded to avoid walking, driving or riding through flood waters.

Overnight the SES reported a quiet night with the latest information indicating that in the 24 hours to 5am today, volunteers in the Brisbane region attended 23 jobs, in the North Coast Region they completed 10 jobs and in the South East Region there were seven jobs.

Almost all of these jobs occurred yesterday and were of a minor nature.

For storm and flood assistance contact the State Emergency Service on 132 500 and in a life-threatening emergency call triple zero (000).

Spring has sprung...a leak!

Between 40-80mm of rain has fallen since 9am around the Gold Coast, with the heaviest falls around Robina (56mm to 11pm at Boobegan Creek) and Springbrook (83mm to 11pm).

The archived 256km Radar Loop for Brisbane
(provided by theweatherchaser.com) shows a line of rain/storms whilst relatively isolated to the coastal strip made it's way north from about Southport at midnight with heavy falls continuing until it disapated north of Maroochydore around 6am.

The morning on the coast was relatively dry until more moderate to heavy falls moving north-west made landfall around 10-11am in the centre of the coast, with a further band of showers heading south-east.

As the radar loop shows, as these two fronts combined, further rain started developing to the north of the Gold Coast in an almost 'circular' pattern (similar to a swirling low or cyclone). Currently the heaviest falls are to the north of Brisbane, with a Flood Warning issued by the Bureau at 11:06pm for Sunshine Coast streams and rivers.

As far as my personal opinion goes along with years of experiencing weather patterns in south-east Queensland, getting this much rain in Spring is really out of the ordinary. Normally from about September onwards, the only real 'rainfall' that we experience is from thunderstorms or lighter coastal showers.

However, it appears that this year, the weather pattern has changed with seemingly continuous showers and rainfall that doesn't seem familar to me. Maybe it's just that I've live most of my life in a drought situation in Queensland and never saw (or had the tools to see) how weather patterns existing pre 1990.

From what I can see, the rainfall we are experiencing at the moment almost represents an East Coast Low situation that whilst they can occur at any time of the year, they are more prominent in autumn and winter. Additionally, the radar images show a 'circular' pattern which also appears to be related to a low pressure system, but normally the heavier rain falls occur on the southern side of the low. Tonight's weather pattern shows the heavier falls to the north.

In my mind, I can only assume that these weather patterns is because of La Niña climate phase. According to a BOM media release in June:

Historically, La Niña events have often, but not always, brought above average rainfall to much of Australia, particularly inland eastern and northern regions. Night time temperatures are also usually warmer than average. Tropical Cyclone risk for northern Australia also increases during La Niña events.

Widespread wet conditions and flooding events have accompanied a number of La Niña events in the past. Substantial flooding impacted NSW and Queensland in the event of 1998, while the event of 1988-89 saw flooding also occur in SA and Victoria.

In general, while La Niña events tend to be wetter than normal for Australia, no two La Niñas have exactly the same impact on local rainfall. So while some regions may experience the typical pattern of heavy rainfall, other regions may miss out altogether.

Actually, I do remember the flooding in 1998 - from memory there were actually two flooding events no more than about 1-2 weeks apart (this is when I was living on the Sunshine Coast). The second event started around 8:30 at night - as we were trying to watch 'Ally McBeal' on TV and because we had a tin roof, the rainfall got so heavy the TV wouldn't go any louder.

Throughout the night it just kept raining and raining, our backyard was under water, the street was under and the water came halfway up our driveway. We were lucky as our house was slightly higher than the other end of the street. Some of our distant neighbours had water lapping at their doors, with one house having raw sewerage coming out of the drains in the floors of the bathrooms because it had no where else to go.

Anyway, I'm interested to know for those of you who've lived here longer than I have, describe what your opinion of the weather patterns have been over the past month?

Rain on the frosty horizon

Significant rain areas on Tuesday afternoon/evening are forecast to develop with moderate to fresh and gusty N to NE winds ahead of SW change.

The current extended forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology predicts an upper trough should cause significant rain areas to develop over the central and eastern parts of the state . The rain should start inland at first, and then move eastwards to reach the coastal districts later in the day. Moderate to fresh and gusty N to NE winds over eastern districts ahead of a SW change moving eastwards across the state.

Additionally, the computer generated Rainfall Forecast maps also predict significant falls for most of the state, with the south-east corner expecting 25-50mm on Tuesday alone, with the possibility of up 50-100mm on Wednesday for the Gold Coast.

The extended forecast for Wednesday will see the upper trough will move east across the state, with the cloud and rain band over eastern districts clearing during the morning. In the wake of the cloud and rain band, cooler and drier S to SW winds should again spread across the state due to a new high pressure system moving eastwards across the Great Australian Bight. As always, these are only forecasts and the situation may change.

However until then, the south-east corner gets to shiver over another cold night, with inland areas going down to -2 degrees at Ipswich, but staying warmer near the coasts with minimum temps of 9 degrees for the Gold Coast warming to a beautiful fine day with an expected top of 23.

Chance of drizzle starts to fizzle

The expected moderate falls of up to 25mm this morning on the Gold Coast has fizzled out, with forecasts for the remainder of today predicting only possible showers and local thunder.

Rainfall Forecast maps now only show the possibily of falls between 5-10mm today around the Gold Coast.

However, the NSW central and mid-north coasts are still likely to receive the heaviest falls right through until Monday as an east coast low continues to develop off the coast, and is currently positioned near Byron Bay.

A Severe Weather Warning for the north-eastern parts of NSW has been issued for possible flash flooding and thunderstorms.

However, the low is expected to head south from Friday, and here in the coast the weekend outlook for the Gold Coast is mostly fine, with just a few showers.

Unsettled conditions from Thursday

Widespread showers and thunderstorms tending to rain at times during morning is expected on Thursday, with some moderate falls of up to 25mm predicted for the Gold Coast.

This weather comes after the south-coast of New South Wales continues the clean up after wild weather struck the region over the weekend, with eastern and mid-north NSW regions preparing for more wet weather and possible gale force winds between 40-70km/h. (Source: Weatherzone)