SYDNEY, Australia: Wild weather is battering a 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) stretch of Australia’s east coast, bringing torrential rain and “abnormally high” tides to cities including Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
More than 2,000 homes in the cities were out of power on Monday after strong winds tampered with power lines.
Tides up to 8 metres (26 feet) high were recorded, eroding the shoreline in some areas. Emergency services said they had had over 700 calls for help since Sunday.
About half a dozen people stranded in floodwaters had been rescued, they added.
Meteorologists have warned that this Australian summer will see the impacts of a La NiƱa weather pattern, which typically brings more rainfall and tropical cyclones.
The current wild weather has hit popular holiday spots such as the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast in Queensland, and Byron Bay in New South Wales (NSW).
The @Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter captured this footage of the dangerous surf conditions while flying over the Gold Coast Seaway today.
ā ļø Please stay out of the water. pic.twitter.com/UaYUPcjlSi
ā Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) (@lifesavingqld) December 13, 2020
Many beaches were closed on Monday amid the dangerous conditions.
The border between the two states recently re-opened following pandemic-related closures, and authorities have warned people travelling for end-of-year holidays to exercise caution.
On Monday, Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (Bom) issued severe weather warnings for a vast coastal area stretching from Hervey Bay in Queensland to Taree in New South Wales.
Affected areas have been alerted to damaging winds, flash flooding and hazardous surf.
Local media reported that waves had washed away what was left of a popular beach in Byron Bay. It had already been depleted due to previous erosions.
Some places have already received over 400mm of rain within 24 hours.
“At this stage, the widespread heavy rainfall is expected to ease late Tuesday or early Wednesday,” the bureau said.
The wet weather was also affecting Queensland’s Fraser Island – a Unesco-listed World Heritage site. Just a week ago, major bushfires ripped through half of the island’s dry bush.
“These are dynamic weather systems and you should always expect the unexpected,” said Bom spokesman Justin Robinson.
Locals across the subtropical east coast hunkered down on Monday, with some sandbagging homes as they braced for floods.
In eastern Australia, the average December-March rainfall during a La NiƱa year is around 20% higher than the long-term average, says the Bom.
Previous severe flooding events of 2010 and 1998 in Queensland were also associated with La NiƱa.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription
