Hazardous Surf Hits SE Qld Coasts

Waves to 4m, Gold Coast erosion

Active hazardous surf warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology cover three Queensland coastal zones: K'gari Coast from Sandy Cape to Double Island Point, Sunshine Coast Waters from Double Island Point to Cape Moreton, and Gold Coast Waters from Cape Moreton to Point Danger.

BOM senior forecaster Felim Hanniffy confirmed wave heights up to 4 metres peaked in south-east Queensland on Friday 22 May, with swell continuing through this week.

"That could lead to some significant erosion on some of the beaches, particularly the more south-facing beaches," Hanniffy said.

Offshore wave heights reached up to 6 metres where the strongest winds were blowing, according to Hanniffy.

The driver: a Tasman Sea low

A low-pressure system in the Tasman Sea has been the primary driver of dangerous surf conditions this week.

"As that low pulls out into the central Tasman Sea, it allows the swells to come more on to the south-east Queensland coast and generate strong to gale-force southerlies," Hanniffy said.

The low is now tracking east through the central Tasman, maintaining swell fetch into south-facing beaches before the pattern relaxes late this week.

The strongest winds remain offshore, clipping rather than hitting the coast directly - which limits direct wind swell but keeps long-period southerly energy running.

Gold Coast erosion: what's on the ground

Scarping - steep vertical sand ridges that form when waves undercut beach faces - was visible at Burleigh Heads as of Thursday 22 May.

Gold Coast chief lifeguard William Ashley measured the tallest scarping at three-quarters of a metre.

"We had a run of consistent swell around 2 metres for the last few weeks," Ashley said.

"That coincided with some big tides and inclement weather."

Council crews shored up affected sections at Burleigh Heads, with the Gold Coast City Council confirming that scarping at this time of year is not unusual.

"The Gold Coast manages erosion very, very well."

Angus Jackson, coastal engineer and chief executive at International Coastal Management, said the current scarping is a natural process, not a structural threat.

Jackson noted the beach has been replenished annually by sand pumped from nearby Tallebudgera Creek for four decades, with the next dredging program scheduled for July.

"If we lose the beach for a short time until the winter nourishment, it's just part of naturally managing the beaches," Jackson said.

Impact for surfers and boaters

The 4-metre surf and steep scarping create serious hazards for bathers and paddlers at south-facing Gold Coast breaks.

Experienced surfers will find Burleigh Point and Kirra firing in large, hollow conditions, but cleanup sets and side-chop from the persistent southerly are a constant factor.

Rock and reef entries at South Stradbroke and Currumbin carry elevated risk while the vertical scarps make beach exits unpredictable.

For boaters, the BOM coastal hazard warning covers the full SE Queensland inshore corridor from south of Coffs Harbour to Moreton Island.

Offshore runs, charter trips, and bar crossings at the Seaway and Jumpinpin are dangerous while swell remains above 3 metres and southerlies exceed 25 knots (46 km/h).

Fishing from rocky headlands including the Point Danger breakwall and Fingal Head carries extreme risk under current conditions.

What to expect next

Hazardous surf warnings are active through 27 May, with conditions expected to ease by Thursday 28 May as the Tasman low tracks east and swell period drops.

BOM's marine forecast shows wave heights returning to 1.5-2 metres and winds shifting lighter northerly by mid-week.

The Gold Coast sand-dredging program at Tallebudgera Creek is scheduled for July, which will rebuild the beach buffer ahead of next winter season.

Track live marine warnings and wave forecasts for the Gold and Sunshine Coasts at Seabreeze QLD weather warnings .

Frequently asked questions

Can I still surf the Gold Coast right now? Experienced surfers can check north-facing breaks, but south-facing beaches are hazardous. Currumbin Alley and Coolangatta may have powerful but rideable surf; avoid beach breaks with vertical scarping.

Are boat ramps open? The Southport Seaway, Jumpinpin, and Tallebudgera Creek entries are marginal for larger vessels but risky for trailer-boats. Check current BOM marine warnings before launching.

How long will the erosion last? Beach profiles typically recover within a few weeks once swell settles. The annual sand-pumping program scheduled for July will restore significant volume to affected Gold Coast beaches.

Is the Sunshine Coast also affected? Yes. Noosa and Coolum face elevated swell with 3-metre-plus sets through Tuesday, covered under the same hazardous surf warning from Double Island Point to Cape Moreton.