UPDATED 2.30pm
LARGE swells and gale force winds could pummel the state’s southern coast as a tropical low travels south-west from New Caledonia.
The Bureau of Meteorology has been tracking the system’s movements to keep disaster management services informed.
While the system is unlikely to develop into a cyclone, BOM has advised south-east Queensland coastal residents to beware of dangerous surf conditions and gale force winds from Wednesday.
“Dangerous surf conditions are expected to develop during Wednesday morning along the east coast of Fraser Island and the Sunshine Coast, and then extend southwards to the Gold Coast during Wednesday afternoon and evening,” a BOM statement read.
Central and southern Queensland beaches might also experience their biggest high tide of the year tomorrow morning but significant inundation of low lying areas is not expected.
A BOM spokesperson said conditions would likely ease by Thursday evening as the system moved further away from the coast.
Some Redlands’ residents have been making sandbags to flood-proof their homes ahead of any coastal flooding.
People further inland have been advised to keep alert.
Scenic Rim mayor Greg Christensen encouraged residents in Beaudesert, Boonah and surrounds to visit Scenic Rim council’s disaster dashboard for up-to-date information on river heights, road conditions, power outages and more.
The wider region, including parts of Logan and Jimboomba, was inundated last year by rivers flooded by ex-tropical Cyclone Debbie.
Mr Christensen said council was monitoring the situation but encouraged people to be prepared.
“Although Scenic Rim is not close to the coast, the approaching low is a timely reminder to residents of our region of the need to be prepared for a severe weather event which could occur at any time,” he said.
“This means having an emergency kit, adequate supplies of non-perishable food and water in case of power outages and torches and batteries.”
Logan residents can also find out emergency information by visiting disaster.logan.qld.gov.au.
UPDATE 11.30am
A SEVERE weather warning for dangerous surf has been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology.
The warning, issued at 10.55am on Tuesday, is for the south-east coast, Wide Bay and Burnett districts.
The eastern side of Stradbroke, Moreton and Fraser islands could be affected, as well as Noosa, Maroochydore, Caloundra and Coolangatta.
The dangerous surf conditions were expected to develop during Wednesday morning along the east coast of Fraser Island and the Sunshine Coast and extend southwards towards the Gold Coast on Wednesday afternoon and evening.
“These conditions are likely to persist into Thursday,” says the warning.
“Although water levels on the high tide early Wednesday morning may approach or slightly exceed the highest tide of the year along the open beaches, significant inundation of low lying areas is not expected.”
A tropical low was located on Tuesday at 10am over the eastern Coral Sea about 1240 kilometres north-east of the Sunshine Coast.
According to BOM, the low will most likely curve to the south during Wednesday, keeping it off the southern Queensland coast.
“Gale force winds over offshore waters across the southern flank of the low are expected to produce large east to south-easterly swells along exposed parts of the southern Queensland coast from Wednesday.”
Surf Life Saving Australia has recommended people stay out of the water and well away from surf-exposed areas.
For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.
EARLIER
THE tropical low near the Solomon Islands is not expected to drench the state as previously warned, authorities say.
The Bureau of Meteorology has been closely monitoring the system to keep disaster management services informed.
While the low could develop into a cyclone, called Linda, the system is not predicted to make landfall on Australia’s east coast.
BOM meteorologist Dean Narramore said most of the low’s heavy rain would be dumped out to sea.
Queensland and New South Wales were hit hard last year by ex-tropical Cyclone Debbie, which caused more than $2 billion damage when it made landfall.
Mr Narramore said the current tropical low was unlikely to bring any natural disaster to south-east Queensland.
“It will be nothing like cyclone Debbie and we are not even expecting it to cross the coast,” he said.
However, Mr Narramore did warn boaties to keep alert to conditions.
He said strong to gale force winds from Wednesday afternoon could stir up seas of four metres.
“It will be a bad day to be at the beach,” he said.
While a flood warning has been issued for Albert River, Mr Narramore said this was not for south-east Queensland.
He said the warning was for another river, also named Albert, located in northern Queensland.
