Residents along Australia’s east coast are preparing for another bout of severe weather this weekend. South East Queensland is set to experience significant rainfall, while hazardous surf conditions persist along the New South Wales coastline.
Coolangatta and the Gold Coast have already seen between 30mm to 50mm of rain overnight, and additional rainfall of 15mm to 25mm is expected across the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and even inland areas like Darling Downs. However, the Bureau of Meteorology has indicated that most of the heavy rain should ease by Sunday afternoon, with hopes for improved weather soon after. Senior meteorologist Dean Narramore stated, “Thankfully, the rain is only going to be Saturday,” suggesting that Sunday may bring back the fine, sunny conditions typical for the region.
In NSW, turbulent surf conditions will continue throughout the weekend, with significant swells anticipated from the Macquarie Coast to the South Coast and Eden, potentially reaching heights of three metres. Surf Life Saving NSW has alerted the public, particularly rockfishers, to steer clear of rock platforms due to these dangerous conditions. CEO Steven Pearce noted, “We’ve seen so many people lose their lives this year already,” and urged caution, recommending life jackets for those engaging in risky activities.
Despite the conditions, NSW is forecasted to enjoy a mostly sunny weekend, with daytime temperatures peaking at 20 degrees Celsius and dropping to 11 degrees at night. Some light showers may appear along Sydney’s coast on Sunday, but overall, the weekend should see favourable weather for most outdoor activities post Saturday.
As the east coast braces for this week’s wild weather, residents are reminded to remain vigilant and abide by safety advisories, particularly near coastal areas.