Storm nearby, swell in town

Noosa Today reader John Wishart caught the big wave action at Noosa main beach on Saturday (2 May) morning.

AS THE deadly storm tore through communities north of Brisbane on Friday, Noosa was lucky to miss the worst of the weather.
Families and homes were left devastated when 360mm of rain was dumped in 24 hours over the Brisbane and north Brisbane areas, but Noosa escaped with minimal damage.
SES Noosa deputy local controller Carol Watkins said the SES received 10 call-outs on Friday for fallen trees, sandbags and damaged roofs in what she described as an incredibly late and unusual storm event.
“We spent Friday morning making sandbags, so we have about 1000 there ready for the next time we need them,” she said.
“We were very, very lucky to avoid the worst of the weather.”
The day following the storm saw the sun shining and temperatures of 23 degrees, plus large swell that enticed the most experienced surfers.
Noosa Council development planner Jack Lewis was among those making the most of the rare large swell, taking to the waves at Sunshine Beach on Saturday.
Jack said the swell was so big the junior club round of the Noosa Boardriders Club had to be postponed.
“But we are keen to see all the young grommits out there on the 17 May and the Shotgun Shootout on 23 May,” Jack said.