Monster 12m waves smash Gold Coast as Cyclone Alfred delivers king tides

Tropical cyclone "Alfred" brought waves exceeding 12 meters to the southeast coast of Queensland today, creating rare and extreme high tides.

"Alfred" is expected to make landfall within hours, and surfing conditions on the Gold Coast have become more dangerous, with huge waves constantly pounding the coastline. Residents captured dramatic scenes showing violent waves crashing onto the shore, with cyclone swells appearing on multiple beaches, including Currumbin and Main Beach.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles stated that waves as high as 12.3 meters were recorded overnight at Gold Coast Main Beach, "the highest ever recorded." Queensland government data shows that 12-meter waves occurred three times in the past 24 hours. Due to the dangerous waves, authorities have asked local residents to stay away from the coast until "Alfred" passes.

However, some avid surfers ignored the warnings and took advantage of the huge waves for surfing. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a hazardous surf warning earlier today, stating that wave conditions were very dangerous for any coastal activities. The warning was for the Fraser Coast, Sunshine Coast, and Gold Coast waters today. Jane Golding of the Bureau of Meteorology said, "We've already seen elevated sea levels yesterday, and we've had abnormally high tides, so that means water levels are higher than the highest tide you'd normally see in any year, and we're monitoring that closely." She added, "There's a lot of wave energy out there, and we are expecting to see significant coastal erosion."

Surf Life Saving Queensland has warned people to stay out of the water and avoid areas exposed to waves, including coastal rock platforms. Yesterday, around 5 p.m. AEST, a woman in her 70s was injured after being knocked over by a wave at Currumbin. The Queensland Ambulance Service stated that the woman hit her head on rocks near Duringan Street and the Gold Coast Highway, resulting in a head laceration and leg injuries. She has been transported to Gold Coast University Hospital in stable condition.

A Gold Coast City Council spokesperson said everyone should stay away from the beaches. "We urge everyone – including swimmers, surfers, boaters and fishermen – to stay away from the beaches," the spokesperson said. High tide is expected on the Gold Coast at 1 p.m. AEST today.