Updated: Gold Coast School Closures 29 January 2013

Updated at 8:30am : The following South East schools will be closed today Tuesday 29 January 2013 due to localised flooding and power outages They are:

Ashmore State School
Miami State School
Tamborine State School
Cedar Creek State School
Springbrook State School
Carbrook State School
Numimbah State School
Harrisville State School
Darlington State School
Tamrookum State School
Warrill View State School
Ingleside State School
Peaks Crossing State School
Redland Bay State School
Pacific Pines Primary (user submitted)

Here's the link to the DETE http://deta.qld.gov.au/natural-disasters.html

 

SEQ braces for impact after wild Australia Day weather in Central QLD

100-125 km/h wind gusts and up to 300mm of rain are expected to impact areas of the Southeast Coast forecast district after a wild day of heavy falls and even tornadoes in the Wide Bay & Burnett region.

Australia Day Weekend Weather Update

200-400mm of rain is still expected over the next four days for the Gold Coast and the Southeast Coast thanks to ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald.

Another wet Australia Day for 2013

Up to 125-200mm of rain could dampen South-East Queensland's 2013 Australia Day weekend according to current long-term rainfall forecasts issued by the Bureau of Meteorology on Wednesday 23 January 2013.

Cover those boxes!

Patchy & thundery rain areas are set to spread eastwards tonight into Boxing Day tomorrow morning over south-east Queensland as an upper level trough currently moving over New South Wales and southern Queensland during Christmas day is expected to move over southeast Queensland on Wednesday.

Warm and possibly stormy Christmas

Gold Coasters will have a mostly fine Christmas day of 30 degrees with just the chance of a late shower or thunderstorm according to the official forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology as at 4:10pm.

The end is nigh(t)

Tonight at 9:11pm will be the end of the world ... talking about the end of the world (at least for a little bit)!

An artist's rendition of tonight's event

The tide is high and we're holding on!

Abnormally high tides and powerful surf are forecasted to affect exposed coastal areas between Sandy Cape and Point Danger in the next few days due to a deepening trough remaining offshore over the southern Coral Sea.

Tides for Friday 14 December and Saturday 15 December 2012

Severe to extreme fire conditions, high temperatures for Tuesday

South East Queensland will swelter through what will be one of hottest days this year tomorrow, and this bushfire season is anticipated to be one of the most dangerous.

Tuesday's forecast temperature map

Feelin' hot, hot, hot!

The Gold Coast will be the 'cool' place to be over the next two days as south east Queensland is set to swelter with the arrival of summer.

A high pressure system in the Tasman Sea is extending a weakening ridge along the east coast of Queensland. This high combined with a slow moving trough over western Queensland extends very hot northerly winds over Queensland's interior.

Monday's temperature forecast map

Did You Know: Anvil Clouds

Cumulonimbus incus ('incus' Latin for "anvil") is the upper portion of a cumulonimbus cloud that has reached a height in the atmosphere where the moisture condenses into ice crystals, and subsequently spreads into the characteristic flat, anvil-top shape as it straddles the lower stratosphere.

Severe storms sweep through SE Queensland - ABC News
Residents in south-east Queensland are mopping up after more wild weather on Sunday evening capped off a torrid weekend of severe weather.

Large hail the feature of storms in southeast - Brisbane Times
Meteorologists say the worst of the recent storm activity appears over, as the Bureau of Meteorology fended off criticism over its efforts in the lead-up to Saturday's ferocious storms.

Softball-sized hailstones hit Brisbane - ninemsn
Hailstones the size of a softballs rained down on Brisbane's south and southwest suburbs during the height of the thunderstorm that swept through the city on Sunday

Brisbane battered by another storm - Sky News
Brisbane has been battered by thunderstorms for a second day, with the airport being closed and large hailstones falling.

Another double dose of severe thunderstorms hit southeast Queensland on Sunday, as Bureau of Meteorology takes flak on storm alerts - The Courier Mail
AFTER another day of intense storm activity - where a Jimboomba man was hit by lightning and a direct strike set a Bulimba house on fire - the most dangerous weather warning on Monday should be for some early morning fog

Severe storms hit south-east Queensland - ABC News Online
Emergency services are frantically cleaning up after south-east Queensland was pummeled by a severe thunderstorm today.

Fierce storms lash southern Queensland - ABC News Online
A massive storm system has hammered southern Queensland with destructive winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall.

Severe thunderstorms building in QLD - WeatherZone News
A severe thunderstorm lashed Brisbane this morning with heavy rain and damaging wind, with further severe storms spreading across Queensland this afternoon.

Storms to crash Schoolies party - Gold Coast Bulletin
GOLD Coast's party precincts are bracing for a storm of pent-up Schoolies shenanigans with forecasters predicting up to a week of wet weather which is likely to send revellers stir-crazy as they remain confined to their rooms.

Second severe storm hits southeast Queensland - Brisbane Times
Southeast Queenslanders are assessing the damage after the region was hit by severe thunderstorms for the second time on Saturday.

Massive storm hits southeast Queensland - news.com.au
THE Bureau of Meteorology has cancelled a severe thunderstorm warning for southeast Queensland tonight after 29,500 homes were left without power when more than 22,000 lightning strikes hit the southeast between 7pm and 11pm.

Storms create havoc across Qld - news.com.au
A FIRE started, powerlines were ripped down, trees were uprooted and roofs collapsed as severe thunderstorms ripped across Queensland and caused mass electricity outages.

Much needed rain on the way

South-east Queensland should finally see some decent moderate falls of rain over the next 24 hours.

The current 128km Brisbane radar (pictured) has falls just west and north of the Gold Coast and is currently heading in a south-easterly direction.

The Bureau's south east coast forecast for the rest of Friday is "cloudy with scattered showers and thundery rain areas. Moderate falls, locally heavy with thunderstorms. Light to moderate N to NE winds, tending fresh at times about the coast. Fire Danger: Moderate to High."

Following into Saturday "Cloudy with rain areas and local thunder with moderate falls, locally heavy with thunderstorms. Light to moderate NE to NW winds, becoming fresh to strong and gusty S to SE about the coast during the day. Fire Danger: Moderate to High." (Source: http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/secoast.shtml)

Hawaii tsunami warning, no threat to Australia

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck off Canada's Pacific coast in the Queen Charlotte Islands at 1:04pm AEST (2:04pm AEDST, or 5:04pm Hawaii Standard Time) prompting a tsunami warning for all Hawaiian Islands to be issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center

Wednesday round-up

Good evening Gold Coasters and other friends! Just doing my rounds of Facebook to bring you some of the best weather shots of the Gold Coast and South East Queensland, as well as any other really stunning and amazing shots. Go to our Facebook page and have a look - http://facebook.com/weathergc

The forecast for the rest of Wednesday on the Gold Coast is mostly cloudy with a shower or two. Moderate E to SE winds, fresh at times. Min 21.

Tomorrow will see some early light rain, easing to a mostly fine day with just a shower or two. Moderate S to SE winds, fresh at times. Max 28

The longer term outlook from the Bureau's computer generated rainfall forecast maps show we could get around 50-150mm over Friday & Saturday combined around SE Qld - we'll just wait and see!

Huff and a puff just blew the storm away

This afternoon's line of storms looked mean as they approached the Gold Coast.

One of our friends, Debby, took this picture at around 3:30pm when the storm front came through overlooking Mt Nathan from Nerang, and sent it to us via email. She mentioned thunder was heard with high gusts of wind as it circled over at the time of taking the picture. (Thanks for the picture Debby!)

Similarly around 4:30pm the view looked dark from Bundall at The Arts Centre (second picture) when the radar showed a line if heavy rain crossing the hinterland.

However it appears most of the storms dissipated as they approached the coast, with light falls around most of the coast (slightly more on the northern coast). After all that, a little ray of sunshine left us with a beautiful sunset.

The forecast for Thursday is mostly fine and partly cloudy with the chance of a shower. Moderate to fresh S to SE winds, gusty at times throughout the day and a max of 27.

Gold Coast beaches damaged & dirty

Wild weather and flooding has badly damaged half the patrolled beaches on the Gold Coast, as per ABC News report

Lifesavers say the shoreline is covered with trees, leaves and rubbish flushed out of locals creeks.

Senior Life Guard Will Ashley says people should avoid the are unless they want to help clean-up.

"It is not looking too good for the beach this weekend and into next week," he said.

"There's a lot of debris up and down the coast most of the beaches are covered in sticks logs and branches and a lot of it is in the surf zone so it is quite dangerous for people to go swimming at the beach.

"About half the lifeguard beaches are closed, some of them will probably still be closed next week and also the water is not clear, it is quite dirty and brown." (Source: ABC News)

Additionally, the Gold Coast City Council advises that following the recent rainfall in the city, it is likely the quality of water at some popular swimming and recreation areas near stormwater outlets have been affected by pollution from stormwater runoff.

Council’s Community and Cultural Development Chair, Councillor Bob La Castra, said Council conducted regular microbial sampling of water at recreational locations throughout the city.

“We have had very heavy continuous rain this week and an enormous volume of water has been flushed through the stormwater systems and into our local waterways,” said Cr La Castra.

“Water sampling has revealed that popular swimming locations, such as swimming enclosures, rivers, creeks and water bodies – particularly those near stormwater outlets – are sometimes affected by pollutants after heavy rains that have the potential to harm human health.

“Changes to water quality can result from a number of sources including stormwater runoff, farming activities, domestic animals, human effluent and wildlife. Swimming in and/or swallowing water contaminated with high levels of pollution can spark illness such as gastroenteritis, skin irritations or ear and eye infections.

“It is recommended swimming and other recreational activities be avoided following heavy rains. We also encourage people to take note of signs posted at water recreation sites.” (Source: Gold Coast City Council)

Beaches on the Gold Coast were looking worse for wear after debris and foamy waves were washed up after all the rain. North Burleigh.

Photographer: Kit de Guymer (Source: Gold Coast Bulletin)

Gold Coast road closures at 27/01/2012 9:30am

Updated: As at 9:30am Friday 27 January 2012, current known & reported road closures in and around the Gold Coast includes:

Alberton, Burrows Road
Beechmon,t Beechmont Road (North Street Lower Beechmont to Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd).
Benobble, Tamborine Mountain Road & Laheys Lookout Rd
Bonogin, Hardys Rd
Clagiraba, Clargiraba Rd (Coomera River Causeway)
Currumbin Valley, Currumbin Ck Rd (Dolans Crossing)
Luscombe, Beaudesert-Beenleigh Road
Merrimac, Highfield Dr
Mudgeeraba, Gunsynd Dr
Mudgeeraba, Berrigans Rd
Mudgeeraba, Somerset Dr
Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast Springbrook Road (Mudgeeraba Creek Causeway)
Mudgeeraba, Mudgeeraba Road (Advancetown Mudgeeraba Road, Exit 79)
Mudgeeraba, Somerset Dr (near Firth Park)
Mudgeeraba, The Link Way (Exit 80)
Upper Coomera, Tamborine-Oxenford Road (John Muntz Causeway)
Pimpama, Yawalpah Road
Stapylton, Rossmans Road
Stapylton, Burnside Road
Tallebudgera, Trees Rd
Tallebudgera, Tallebudgera Connection Road
Tallebudgera, Valley Araluen Rd
Tallebudgera, Valley Daltons Rd
Tallebudgera, Valley Mount Cougal Rd
Tallebudgera, Valley Tallebudgera Ck Rd (Past Dickfos Rd)
Yatala, Sandy Creek Toad
Wongawallan, Wongawallan Rd
Neranwood, Gold Coast Springbrook Road (Austinville)

(Sources include 131940.qld.gov.au, QldAlert.com and Gold Coast City Council)

Drivers are urged to take caution in the wet weather and under no circumstances should they drive through flooded causeways or roads.

Do you know of any other roads that are closed, or ones that have reopened? Let us know! Leave a comment, go to our Facebook page or Twitter.

Remember, if it's flooded, forget it!

Situation deteriorating in flooded south-east Qld - ABC News
Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) says torrential rain that has caused chaos around the state's south-east on Tuesday is only going to get heavier overnight.

More rain to come as southeast Queensland cops a drenching - News.com.au
DOZENS of people have been evacuated from their homes, hundreds of streets closed and Australia Day celebrations cancelled as drenching rain continues to fall across the state

The Nation Boy feared drowned as freak weather lashes eastern states - The Australian
RELENTLESS downpours over 48 hours caused flash flooding and brought traffic chaos along a 500km stretch of Queensland and NSW yesterday, cancelling Australia Day festivities and evoking painful memories of last summer's deadly flooding for scores of recovering communities

Southeast Queensland braces for more rain - SMH.com.au
Southeast Queensland is bracing for more drenching rain after the heaviest downpours since last summer caused widespread flash flooding across the region.

Queensland braced for flash flooding, monsoonal rain in worst weather since 2011 flood disaster - Herald Sun
Rain creates havoc at an intersection on Mount Tamborine. iPhone vision, no audio Two Mins on High, floods expected The forecast for the week is rain and more rain with floods expected.

Much more rain to come, says bureau - Brisbane Times
Southeast Queensland is bracing for another 24 hours of heavy rainfall, with forecasters predicting more than 200 millimetres of rain to bucket down on parts of the region by tomorrow night.

Flash flooding closes Coast roads - Gold Coast Bulletin
HEAVY rainfall and flash flooding continue to hit the Coast with several roads closed, several accidents reported and more than 200 Gold Coast Energex customers experiencing power outages during the wild weather.