Updated
Severe Tropical Cyclone Oma could possibly cross the southern Queensland coast, after changing direction overnight, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says.
Key points:
- The system is expected to track towards Queensland instead of turning away
- Abnormally high tides are forecast for the coming days
- Beaches are expected to close, while trawlers are returning home
The category three system is currently off New Caledonia, about 1,120 kilometres north-east of Brisbane.
BOM said it was no longer expected to turn south-east towards New Zealand over the weekend.
Forecaster Sam Campbell said instead the system was moving south-west.
He said a cyclone watch may be issued this afternoon ahead of gale force winds developing tomorrow.
“It’s now looking increasingly likely that it will continue on a westerly track towards the southern Queensland coast,” he said.
“Most likely it will weaken just a touch, it won’t be a category three by the time it gets to the coast, but just to emphasis that point — we could actually see that cyclone coming into southern Queensland and possibly even a coastal crossing over the weekend.”
He said it was still unclear exactly where on the coast the system could reach.
“Anywhere south of about St Lawrence, so that’s that area around Rockhampton, so anywhere south of there right down to Brisbane really is potentially in play for a cyclone crossing if that was to occur — but I’ve got to emphasise it will come near the coast and not necessarily cross the coast but it is possible it could cross the coast.”
The weather bureau warned abnormally high tides are expected along the southern Queensland coast in the coming days.
Yesterday’s king tide along coastal areas north of Mackay caused some erosion at Midge Point and the Pioneer River to flow into the nearby carpark.
Today’s high tide is forecast to exceed the highest tide of the year by around half a metre.
Gold Coast lifeguards are expected to close beaches as the swell increases.
Fencing has been removed from some Gold Coast beaches and the city’s council has heavy machinery on standby to reprofile beaches and move sand to vulnerable locations.
On the Sunshine Coast, Mooloolaba’s fishing fleet has largely returned home ahead of the system.
Mooloolah River Fisheries General Manager, Daryn Logan, said only the bigger tuna boats and trawlers remained at sea and they were expected home within a day.
“At the moment it’s totally unpredictable, so as soon as they know where that’s gone or what it’s doing, they’ll get out there. In the meantime, the fishing grounds just get a bit of a forced rest.”
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