Weather Emergency: Wild Storms, Heavy Rains, and Flooding Lash at Australia's East Coast

Australia's 620-mile stretch of the east coast was battered by strong winds, tides up to eight meters high, and heavy rains and flooding particularly in Queensland and New South Wales over the weekend.

The wild weather events left more than 2,000 homes in cities without electricity on Monday as strong winds toppled power lines down.

More than 700 calls for help were responded to by the Emergency services since Sunday. Emergency services also reported of around 5 people were rescued from floodwaters.

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Strong winds, Heavy Rains and Flooding 

(Photo : Getty images )
Heavy flooding is seen on the banks of the Shoalhaven River on August 10, 2020 in Nowra, Australia. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for heavy rain and damaging wind gusts across New South Wales, with flood warnings issued for towns along the Shoalhaven River.

Areas of southeast Queensland and New South Wales are expected to have heavy rains, winds, and waves today as the weekend was swamped with calls for rescues and evacuation over the weekend.

Weather experts say that this Australian summer is expected to get the weather pattern of La Nina, which usually brings more rainfall and tropical cyclones.

The recent weather events have impacted popular tourist spots such as the iconic Byron Bay in New South Wales. The famous beach was badly washed away not only because of the eight-meter -high tides which hit the coastlines over the weekend, but also previous erosions.

According to Simon Richardson, the mayor of Byron Shire, they are watching the Byron beach disappear due to severe weather and massive swells. Steven Pearce from Surf Lifesaving NSW said that they are experiencing the largest coastal erosion that they had in years, particularly the Byron Bay area which is changing the entire landscape of the beaches. 

Other popular holiday spots such as the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast in Queensland were also badly affected.

On Monday, most of the beaches were closed as the weather condition worsened.

Severe weather warnings for the vast coastal area which is from Hervey Bay in Queensland to Taree in the New South Wales.

Residents and tourists in the area were earlier alerted of damaging winds, flash flooding, and hazardous time for surfing.

In some places, around 400 mm of rain has been recorded in the past 24 hours, and the weather bureau said that the heavy rains may continue until late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

The Queensland Fraser Islands, a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site was not spared from the rainy weather. A week ago, a major bushfire also burned through half of the island's dry bush.

READ ALSO: Australia: Intense Windstorm Flooded Melbourne with Tumbleweed 

Beaches are closed

Beaches all over the regions are closed as the large swells are dangerous. 

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate warned swimmers and surfers to avoid the waters for the next two days.

Meanwhile, the beaches on the Gold Coast have been covered with sea foams which reached up to two meters high in some parts.

This is due to wild surf and strong winds which caused the foam to blow into shore and congeal,

Residents are warned to take caution and steer clear from the foams as numbers of dogs have been reported to get lost in the cloudy substance.

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