Weather News

Ului to generate dangerous surf

Despite uncertainty in Tropical Cyclone Ului's future movement, one likely outcome will be dangerous surf on Queensland's east coast.

This is due to the fact that Ului will have spent about a week out in the Coral Sea, most of it in a very intense state.

Ului, still about 1300km northeast of Mackay, is showing signs of its severe category four status with a clearly visible eye, "winking" arrogantly.

He is already sending a pulse of large waves and swell (greater than seven metres) in all directions. During the next few days this pulse will head closer to Queensland as Ului slowly approaches.

By this weekend there's a very good chance waves and swells will be noticeably larger on the southeast coast, possibly becoming dangerously high, leading to beach erosion and closures.

On the Sunshine and Gold coasts swell should peak higher than eight feet in the surf zone.

The cyclone's exact future track is in doubt but with an increased chance some southwest movement this also means windier and wetter weather for southeast Queensland. If Ului gets close enough gales and heavy rain will affect the region.

For the tropical north this means drier, warmer southwesterly winds.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2010

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