Big surf predicted

Two men have fun in the whitewater at Snapper Rocks yesterday.

Blainey Woodham

THE threat of huge seas on the Tweed Coast has eased, with Tropical

Cyclone Ului predicted to cross the coast of North Queensland as a category two cyclone tomorrow.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is still predicting large swell in the 2.5m to 3.5m range today, but that is a reduction on predictions of five-metre conditions made earlier this week.

BOM forecaster Pradeep Singh said the southern parts of Queensland were “not a big concern” as TC Ului moved towards the coast, but it would be windy with scattered showers.

“There is a large high-pressure system in the south and TC Ului to the north and the Tweed is squeezed in between, so there will be some strong winds, in the 20 to 25-knot range around on Saturday.”

A spokesman for Gold Coast City Council’s Engineering Services said a council coastal management team had investigated beaches and were not concerned by any erosion.

The solid east, north-easterly groundswell is expected to create dangerous conditions for both surfers and swimmers.

Surf Life Saving Far North Coast (SLSFNC) has advised swimmers to take extreme caution at beaches at the weekend.

Some beaches may be closed and SLSFNC is urging people not to swim at unpatrolled locations.

“It’s so important that beachgoers heed our warnings about swimming at closed and unpatrolled beaches,” a SLSFNC spokesman said.

“The conditions along the coast could become extremely hazardous and we don’t want people to put themselves at risk.”