Severe storms

One quarter of all Queenslanders live within 3km of the ocean. With more and more people choosing to live close to their favourite beach, it is important to know as much as possible about the natural forces affecting our coast and its communities.

In Queensland, the risk of severe storms increases during cyclone season (November to May). Our coastal scientists and engineers prepare for cyclone season by:

• ensuring monitoring equipment, such as storm tide gauges and wave monitoring buoys, is installed and fully operational throughout Queensland
• testing and preparing temporary instruments and drifting wave buoys for rapid response deployment in areas not covered by the network of permanent monitoring devices
• ensuring staff are trained and available to perform the role of storm tide advisors for emergency management centres, should an event threaten the Queensland coastline.

Warning and response system

We continuously collect data from an extensive wave monitoring and storm tide monitoring network along Queensland’s coast. This network provides real-time water level data to help identify storm tide threats and extreme wave conditions.

We also work closely with Bureau of Meteorology forecasters who predict the magnitude of storm surges generated by severe storms.

When a severe storm develops into a tropical cyclone, our coastal engineers and scientists:

• provide 24hr advice to emergency management centres on measured and potential storm surge levels
• provide interpretive technical advice regarding storm surge processes.

Disaster managers use this data to adjust strategies in response to developing conditions.

Our agencies also use the Tropical Cyclone Storm Tide Warning—Response System Handbook (PDF, 3.73MB) as a guide for responses to severe storms off Queensland.

Post-event investigations

After major coastal hazard events like cyclones, our scientists travel to the impacted areas to:

• confirm data recorded by the monitoring network during the event
• assess the magnitude of damage to the coastline.

The use of surveying equipment enables scientists to record beach profiles, the location of debris, and the heights of water markings on buildings.

Additional assessments can be made about the impact by observing the height of debris in trees and fences, and from discussions with local residents.

This information is used to verify the accuracy of predictions and improve future responses.

We also publish our findings in fact sheets and field investigation reports—see our publications page for access.

Case study—Tropical Cyclone Yasi

The 2011 Tropical Cyclone Yasi was one of the most powerful cyclones to have affected Queensland.

Previous cyclones of a comparable measured intensity include:

• Cyclone Mahina in Princess Charlotte Bay in 1899
• 2 other cyclones in 1918 at Mackay (January) and Innisfail (March).

As Tropical Cyclone Yasi approached the Queensland coast on the morning of 3 February 2011, our engineers and scientists were providing 24hr support to the State Disaster Coordination Centre on storm surge levels and interpretive advice.

Our information and advice provided necessary insight to the decision making by disaster managers to evacuate threatened coastal communities.