Monster waves close beaches

Sydney beaches were closed for a seventh day in a row yesterday as huge surf, including 3-metre waves, pounded the coast. The giant seas were blamed on the low pressure cell that has battered south-east Queensland for several days. (Sydney Morning Herald Sunday 6th January 2008)

Surf Life Saving NSW said all beaches between Palm Beach and Cronulla were closed, with the exception of the more sheltered Bondi and Clovelly. Only Umina and Ocean beaches were open on the Central Coast.

Surf Life Saving NSW spokesman Brett Moore said conditions were too dangerous to allow swimmers into the water.

"The low-pressure swell kicked up again in Queensland in the past couple of days and has closed every beach on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast," he said.

"In Sydney there is huge surf and very dangerous waves. The swell forecast was for up to nine-foot (2.7-metre) waves regularly for beaches throughout Sydney."

He said some waves would reach 3 metres.