In this week's beach report, Craig Holden says winds will remain moderate with only a slight chance of scattered showers.
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: Well yet again, it has been another warm and windy week across the local region, although with the winds shifting more from the S/SE over the last two days at least the temperatures have been a little milder!
Looking ahead to Friday and into the weekend, we should see a continuation of these S/SE to E/SE winds at a moderate intensity (but thankfully not quite as blustery as the past two days), with just the slight chance of a scattered shower about through Friday.
Winds will be from the E/SE at 10 to 15 knots on Friday morning before they increase to 15 to 20 knots around late morning and then drop back to 10 to 15 knots this afternoon.
Saturday will be very similar, with E/SE winds at 10 to 15 knots that will increase to 15 to 20 knots by around mid to late afternoon, before Sunday brings 10 to 15 knots of E/SE to E winds throughout the day.
Swimming: With the forecast being for moderate E/SE winds over the next few days, we can expect more choppy and slightly messy ocean conditions to continue – particularly on those more open beaches that are exposed to these wind directions.
If you are swimming, the best locations will be those beaches that are going to provide some protection from the prevailing winds, so Hervey Bay, Agnes Water (adjacent to the headland), Nielson Park and Moore Park will likely be the better options, whilst the best time for a swim will be either be in the very early mornings (when the winds are lighter) or again from midday to mid-afternoon (when the tide is higher).
The open and exposed beaches will also have a side current pushing from right to left over the coming days, so be mindful of this when swimming.
Please check with the lifeguard or lifesavers on duty, read any safety signage or messages, and most importantly please swim only at patrolled beaches, only 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: Friday 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: Yet again, the surf has been very ordinary across our local beaches this week, with choppy and messy conditions being the norm as you would expect with these windy conditions.
But fingers crossed, that the E/SE winds will start to throw up at least some small, but fun-sized waves over the coming days. Beaches such as Agnes Water, Nielson Park, Mon Repos and even Moore Park Beach will likely be the better options for a wave – let’s just hope we start to get enough size to get wet for!
Try the very early mornings or again an hour or two either side of high tide. Good luck!
For the SUP and ocean ski/kayak paddlers, the moderate wind conditions will once again create choppy and slightly messy conditions offshore, so downwind paddling conditions will be okay for the experienced paddlers (heading in a south to north direction), although the swell direction could be a bit confused.
For the lesser experienced paddlers, you will find some calmer conditions in the sheltered creeks and rivers.
Events: It is a busy weekend of surf lifesaving competitions coming up with the following events all being held over the next two days – WBC Branch Board Riding (surfing) Championships (Agnes Water – tomorrow morning); WBC Branch Premiership Series Round 1 (Agnes Water – tomorrow afternoon); and a local junior (Under 8 to Under 15) carnival at Nielson Park Beach (Bundaberg SLSC) on Sunday, commencing at 9am. Good luck to all competitors!
- Last week's report: Choppy beach conditions this weekend
