Big swell hits Queensland and NSW over Christmas...

2012 Hurricane & Cyclone Season

2012 Hurricane Season Links
Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) 

Big swell closes Queensland and NSW beaches on Boxing Day  |  Updates

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 26 December, 2011 : - - A big swell closed up to half of NSW's beaches today and is set to continue for at least another 24 hours. Two-metre waves are the result of ex-tropical cyclone Fina creating hazardous conditions. Many of Sydney's northern beaches, including Narrabeen, Dee Why and South Curl Curl, were closed. The swell is expected to peak this afternoon and this evening

The big conditions were the result of ex-tropical cyclone Fina, which formed 1000km off Townsville's coast several days ago and headed west before reducing in strength. Dozens of beaches in Queensland were also shut on Boxing Day. The swell should remain large but begin to decrease late tomorrow and Wednesday. Read more


Queenslands beaches closed

Gold and Sunshine Coast beaches were closed by life savers today. Noosa main beach and a small section of Mudjimba beach are the only open areas on the Sunshine Coast. An intense low was responsible for the on-shore conditions, with swells hitting the four metre mark. Read more

    
Snapper Rocks, Christmas Day  |  Gallery

Cyclone hits northern Australia

Cyclone Grant began battering remote areas of northern Australia, with gale force winds and heavy rainfall hitting communities on the Cobourg Peninsula. Cyclone Grant strengthened to category 2 on Sunday, hitting islands and parts of the coast north east of Darwin on Christmas morning. In just six hours 79mm of rain fell around the Coburg Peninsula while 27mm was recorded at Gove Airport.

As the cyclone continues over land it will likely drop to a Category 1 storm, before regaining strength as it heads across the warm waters of the Van Diemen Gulf. On Sunday Cyclone Grant was about 255km northeast of Darwin and had begun moving southwards towards the Van Diemen Gulf, where it is expected to reach on Monday. Read more

More info: ABPW10 (Western/South Pacific Ocean) | ABPW10 Text | Satellite Image

Tropical Storm forms in Indian Ocean east of Colombo

Also, an area of showers and thunderstorms was located in the northern Indian Ocean approximately 420 miles to the east of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Satellite imagery continues to show a low-level circulation. With sea-surface temperatures warm in this area, this system will be monitored closely for possible further development.

More info: ABIO10 (Indian Ocean) | ABIO10 Text | Satellite Image

Hurricane & Cyclone links:

2011 Hurricane Season Links
Tropical Analysis and Forecasting (NOAA)

NHC Forecasts & Warnings(NOAA)
NHC Latest Satellite Imagary (NOAA)

Central Pacific Hurricane Center (NOAA) 
Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)

Source: Reuters

Compiled by: SV Editors

Tags; Cyclones Australia

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