In this week's beach report, Craig Holden says the wind will settle across the region in time for nice weekend weather at the beach.
Important note: Remember there are updated COVID-19 restrictions. If you are at the beach, please maintain the social/physical distancing minimum guidelines and abide by the current group gathering guidelines as well.
Weather: It has been a bit of a windy week across the local region and especially over the past two days when those gusty E/SE winds have really flexed their muscles.
Looking ahead to the weekend, it looks like we'll see a drop in wind strength, which should in turn provide some pretty nice beach conditions.
Friday’s wind will ease back to around 10 to 15 knots from the E/SE for most of the day before they just start to swing more form the E/NE by later in the afternoon and this is the exact same forecast for Saturday as well.
Sunday will be different though, with a more pronounced northerly wind flow expected by then as we are forecast to have NE to N/NE winds and again at around 10 to 15 knots.
Temperatures will remain quite mild with maximums forecast to reach around 27 to 28 degrees while the sky could get a little cloudy, but the chance of showers is again only low.
Swimming: Conditions are expected to be quite okay over the coming days, with a little residual swell hanging around through Friday, which may just cause some strong currents on those open and exposed beaches.
The mornings will again provide the calmest ocean conditions while the winds are lighter, with slightly choppier conditions expected through the afternoons as the afternoon sea breezes kick in by then.
The best beaches for Friday and Saturday will be Agnes Water, Hervey Bay, Moore Park Beach and Nielson Park, but by Sunday, Kellys Beach and Elliott Heads will definitely be the better options, while the best time for a swim will be from early to mid and even late morning.
Swimmers should be extra cautious this weekend though, with the bigger high tides and larger tidal variances expected to produce strong tidal currents on the beaches and especially around those creek and river mouths.
Also, keep an eye out for bluebottles while the winds are from the north on Sunday.
Don’t forget though, please check with the lifeguard or lifesavers on duty, read any safety signage or messages, and most importantly please swim only at patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags, and only during patrol times – remember, if we can’t see you, we can’t save you!
Beach patrols: Today and weekdays – 9am to 5pm at Kellys Beach and Agnes Water only.
Saturday – 9am to 5pm at Kellys Beach, Nielson Park, Oaks Beach and Agnes Water; 1pm to 5pm at Elliott Heads and Moore Park Beach.
Sunday – 9am to 5pm at Elliott Heads, Kellys Beach, Nielson Park, Oaks Beach, Moore Park Beach and Agnes Water.
Surfing: Once again, there have been waves about our local beaches this past week, with a real increase in wave heights noticeable on Thursday with plenty of clean and fun-sized waves on offer for those that made the effort to get out of bed early before the onshore winds kicked in.
Looking ahead to the coming days, it does appear inevitable that the wave heights will drop off, but Friday morning should still provide enough residual size to again provide more clean, fun waves.
Also, throughout the weekend, don’t give up hope, as small, clean waves should continue at least into Saturday before those northerly winds start to mess things up by Sunday.
Best locations for today and tomorrow: Agnes Water, Nielson Park, Mon Repos and Moore Park. Sunday: maybe a sneaky look early at Kellys Beach or Elliott Heads.
For the SUP and ocean ski/kayak paddlers, forecast conditions may enable some calmer ocean paddles to take place through the early mornings from Friday and into the weekend, but there is a little bit of swell/wave action to contend with, although that should ease over the coming days.
For the downwind paddlers, there may be an opportunity for some afternoon downwind paddles if that wind gets up a little stronger than forecast.
Events: SOS WEEK is on at present and concludes on Sunday. This is Surf Life Saving Queensland’s annual fundraising appeal. Due to Covid-19, local clubs are asking people to donate online.
- Last week's beach report with Craig Holden: Enjoyable weekend weather
