Wild Qld weather continues to whip up waves

The low pressure system that has caused bleak weather in parts of Queensland is still whipping up large seas on the Gold Coast.

Chief lifeguard Warren Young says only experienced surfers should brave the rough conditions.

"The inshore swell here is about 2.5 metres, look up towards Surfers Paradise it's a bit bigger than that," he said.

"The swell is by no means a cyclonic swell, it's just a decent swell of 1.5 to two metres in that range."

Earlier, weather bureau spokesman Craig Mitchell said three-metre waves are breaking on some Gold and Sunshine Coast beaches.

He says there are gale force winds offshore from central Queensland to the far north.

"We do anticipate the winds to build along the coastal water zones from the Cooktown area down towards the Hervey Bay area," he said.

Mr Mitchell says people should be careful.

"I'd be asking for swimmers just to be a little bit cautious swimming in the surf," he said.

Sunshine Coast lifeguard Isaac Smith says conditions are deteriorating on open beaches.

Winds are expected to reach 80 kilometres an hour near Mackay.

Areas near Cairns have received up to 70 millimetres of rain.

The wild weather is expected to continue until tomorrow.

- ABC

© ABC 2008

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