The Bureau of Meteority has just issued the following warning for Dangerous Surf Conditions. There’s nothing startling in it but I thought that I’d post this one in case anyone had children who were contemplating going for a dip. It’s also relevant to people with properties in erosion-prone areas…..
Issued at 4:49 pm Sunday, 13 April 2014.
Synoptic Situation: At 4pm EST, Tropical Cyclone Ita was located about 15 kilometres east southeast of Bowen and was moving to the southeast at 26 kilometres per hour. Tropical Cyclone Ita is expected to transition into a vigorous low pressure system during Monday. The low is then expected to continue moving to the southeast well off the Queensland coast during Tuesday and should be situated well off the southeast Queensland coast by late Tuesday. A high in the Great Australian Bight will extend a ridge through the Queensland interior during Monday and Tuesday. The combination of these two systems will lead to increasing winds and waves over southern Queensland waters.
Dangerous surf conditions are expected to develop about the east coast of Fraser Island during Monday evening and will persist during Tuesday, before easing during Tuesday night.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services advises that people should:
* 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.