Large swells are set to impact the Gold Coast over the next few days as a cyclone strengthens and tracks south.
Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle formed late on Wednesday and is currently a category one system.
Gabrielle is approximately 610kms northeast of Mackay moving at 13 kms/h.
It’s forecast to strengthen into a category two system on Thursday morning before tracking southeast.
It is then expected to become a category three system by early Friday morning.
Gabrielle will remain well off the Queensland coast but is likely to pass very close to Norfolk Island late on Saturday or early Sunday morning.
IMAGE: BOM
A gale warning has been issued for the Townsville Coast, Mackay Coast and Great Barrier Reef Offshore for Thursday.
A strong wind warning is in place for the Cairns Coast, Capricornia Coast, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island Coast and Sunshine Coast Waters.
The Gold Coast is expected to feel the impacts of Gabrielle on Friday with some large swells to impact the coast.
A hazardous surf warning has been issued for Gold Coast waters for Friday as well as Capricornia Coast, Fraser Island Coast, Sunshine Coast Waters.
It’s expected that could see the closure of some beaches with lifeguards to assess the situation in the morning.
Those large swells are expected to continue on Saturday.
