Strong wind warning for Monday's Anzac holiday

Strong 25/30 knot winds with 3m seas from Point Danger to Sandy Cape (excluding Hervey Bay & Moreton Bay) are expected to affect mainly offshore waters from early Monday 26th April 2010, with a Coastal Wind Warning issued at 10:45am on Sunday morning.

Rainy weather dampens tourism

With seemingly endless forecasts of 'just a shower or two' for the Gold Coast over the last couple of weeks is leaving tourism operators not only with dampened spirits but lost business and revenue.

Today's showers seemed more like patchy rain with moderate falls occurring during the day across the Gold Coast, especially closer to the coast and near Springbrook in the hinterland.

The top 24hr rainfall figures to 9am today (21st April 2010) recorded 66mm at Southport, 56mm at Moldendinar, 55mm Upper Springbrook, 46mm at Oxenford and 44mm at Loder Creek Dam. (Source: BOM Qld Flood Warning Centre)

According to news articles at the Gold Coast Bulletin, Melbourne has 'stolen' our weather with city recording higher temperatures around 27-29 degrees. With the constant rainy weather here on the coast, bookings for outdoor activities such as river cruises and houseboats are at low levels with tourists preferring the sunny weather. (Source: Gold Coast Bulletin)

It appears Melbourne have also taken our afternoon summer storms with a severe storm lashing the city at around 6pm yesterday, causing flash flooding and roof damage to properties that prompted over 300 calls to the State Emergency Service. (Source: The Age).

The outlook for the Anzac weekend forecasts the showers clearing on Saturday but possibly returning again from Sunday afternoon.

Goodbye severe storms, hello East Coast Lows

With the onset of the cooler autumn weather, the chance of severe thunderstorms impacting the Gold Coast and South-East Queensland drops quite low.

However, it doesn't mean that we aren't out of the woods in regards to severe weather activity - the East Coast Low.

Easter weather outlook

It's looking like a mostly fine and warm Easter long weekend here on the Gold Coast, the forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology expecting a brief shower or two tomorrow, otherwise it's mostly fine all weekend including Easter Monday at a constant top of 27 degrees.

A new high pressure system will move across the Great Australian Bight over the
next few days and nose into the Tasman Sea on Sunday allowing a firm ridge again
to spread along most of the east coast. At the same time a low over the Tasman Sea will intensify. The combination of the two systems will result in a fresh to S/SE airflow again becoming established along much of the east coast by Sunday.

Mostly fine conditions will persist over southern parts of the state into early next week due to the influence of the ridge, with only isolated showers expected about the exposed coast and ranges. Temperatures across the state will generally be near or below average through the weekend and into early next week due to winds generally coming from the S to SE direction.

Enjoy your weekend and drive safe.