Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
SEVERE WEATHER WARNING
for Damaging Winds, Flash Flooding, and Large Waves
For people in the following forecast districts:
Central Highlands and Coalfields;
Central Coast and Whitsundays;
Capricornia;
Wide Bay and Burnett;
Southeast Coast.
Issued at 10:20 am on Tuesday 12 February 2008
Synoptic situation: At 10am the monsoon trough lay across northern Queensland
with a 999 hPa low located around 50km west of St Lawrence. The low is moving
southeast and is expected to be located on the Sunshine Coast late tonight.
The low is expected to remain an intense system as it moves rapidly towards the
southeast. Very heavy rainfall is likely, both along the coast east of the low
and extending inland to its south. The heaviest falls of rain have cleared the
Central Coast area and will generally be confined to the south of St Lawrence
today.
Locally damaging wind gusts up to 90 km/h are also expected east of the low
reaching 110 km/h in coastal areas exposed to the north including Hervey Bay.
Southeasterly wind gusts to 90 km/h are expected to develop over the Southeast
Coast district tonight.The northerly winds will bring large waves into Hervey Bay and other areas of
the coastline exposed to the north. Tides will be higher than normal.
Winds will gradually ease from the north in the Central Coast and Whitsundays
district during the day.
The State Emergency Service advises that people in the affected area should:
- seek shelter, indoors where possible, and never under trees.
- secure outdoor items.
- beware of fallen trees and powerlines.
- avoid driving, walking or riding through flood waters.
- if near the coastline, stay well away from the water's edge.
The next warning is due to be issued by 5 pm EST Tuesday.
This warning is also available through TV and Radio broadcasts; the Bureau's
website at
http://www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 219. The Bureau and State Emergency
Service would appreciate this warning being broadcast regularly