As reported by www.Sail-World.com. First, it was fired and record temperature heatwave, now the wet season has well and truly hit with former tropical cyclone Oswald continuing to wreak havoc along the Queensland coast, heading into NSW.

Published 12 years ago, updated 5 years ago

As reported by www.Sail-World.com

See feedback from cruisers in Australia at bottom of the report.

After three days of pelting rain and winds up to 150km per hour, Rockhampton and Bundaberg have had the worst of the wild weather, while still experiencing flooding in some parts, and are now cleaning up. On the Gold Coast, canals and waterways are swollen to record levels, choked with debris and wrecked jetties, even a trampoline, swirling about in strong currents. This morning at 8 am, close to high tide, a frothing ocean had reached the fences of the prestigious homes on Hedges Ave, Mermaid Beach. The beach paths are bubbling with sea foam and there is no sand visible, except that which has blown across the road.

Needless to say, the beaches are closed and local weather warnings put the gale force winds at 120km per hour. The rain is whipping across the streets and the few cars out have encountered traffic lights flashing amber, out altogether and tree trunks impeding road use in some places.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman yesterday called for army helicopters to help in Bundaberg, where 300 homes and 100 businesses were expected to be inundated by floods overnight. Some homes had only just been rebuilt following devastating floods two years ago.

Five small twisters tore roofs from houses, brought down powerlines and uprooted trees as they ripped into Bargara, Burnett Heads and Coonarr near Bundaberg, leaving some 20 people injured. Another tornado was reported at Mooloolaba. More than 60,000 homes were without power across southeast Queensland late yesterday, with that figure expected to rise.

Northern NSW and Sydney have been put on alert as the huge storm cell, formerly tropical cyclone Oswald surges south. NSW is on red alert for flash flooding, damaging winds of up to 130km/h and huge seas similar to those that have caused chaos and millions of dollars in property damage across Queensland since the low-pressure system made landfall on Cape York Peninsula six days ago.

SES spokesman Phil Campbell said the worst of the weather for Sydney was expected to arrive Monday between 5 pm and midnight, bringing damaging winds of more than 100km/h, heavy seas and flash flooding.

See full report at www.Sail-World.com

Feedback from Cruisers

Please be aware that Bundaberg in Australia is experiencing its largest flood ever. The Burnett River where many yachts are anchored has reached speeds of 40 knots! The situation at Burnett Heads is not much different but is compounded by large swell. Boat owners and transient yachties are in crisis mode.

Mark Cohen

SV Gant Man

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