QLD:Giant surf may close Gold Coast beaches

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2011
QLD:Giant surf may close Gold Coast beaches

By Tony Bartlett

GOLD COAST, Dec 22 AAP - With cyclone swells expected to create waves up to three metres
during Christmas, some of Queensland's most popular beaches could be closed on the normally
busiest days of the year.

Gold Coast Chief Lifeguard Warren Young says a heavy easterly swell started pounding
the city's main beaches early on Thursday afternoon.

"Even if you get two and a half metres, it's pretty solid with an easterly," he told AAP.

"It comes straight in, so it'll be interesting."

Mr Young says the offshore weather systems could veer away and leave some residual
swells coming in, but there's always a chance they could stay closer to the coast than
forecast and push up huge waves.

"It's not an exact science by any means, but what everyone agrees on is that it's going
to come straight in from the east and that in itself is not good," he said.

"But on Christmas Day there's a really good low tide between 3.30 and 4.00pm (AEST)
after a big tide in the morning, which means there'll be plenty of sand to play beach
soccer or beach cricket on."

He says if there's a big easterly swell it won't be worth risking a swim in the surf.

"If the beaches are closed it'll be for a reason, especially with that size swell coming
in," he said.

"But people should be patient because these weather systems pass through fairly quickly,
and in a couple of days they'll be able to get back in the water."

Beaches will be assessed individually unless a huge swell rolls in.

"We will give people a swim if we can," Mr Young said.

"But if it comes in at three metres plus, especially on the open beaches between Burleigh
and The Spit, there could be a blanket closure of all those beaches.

"We'll take it day by day and see how it goes."

If the forecasts are right, the waves will probably be too messy for even the country's
top surfers who regularly hunt big cyclone swells along the Gold Coast's top beaches,
he says.

AAP bart/gd/jl

KEYWORD: XMAS BEACHES QLD

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.