According to Craig Holden beachgoers should “get in early” before the wind picks up, creating choppy conditions.
Looking ahead to today and the coming long weekend, and unfortunately, it does look like being quite windy, and also a little wet – especially through today and tomorrow – whilst the temperatures will remain quite mild with maximums hovering around 25 to 26 degrees.
Both today and tomorrow look likely to provide the highest chance of showers or rain before showers become less frequent by Sunday and Monday.
This morning’s winds will be from the S/SE E/SE at 10 to 15 knots before increasing to 15 to 20 knots, and then for Saturday and Sunday we can expect 15 to 20 knots of E/SE winds.
Monday’s public holiday will then bring S/SE to E/SE winds at around 15 knots.
Swimming: Swimming conditions have been quite good through the early mornings over the past few days and this will again be the case over the coming days – despite the early morning low tides – where you are best advised to get in early before the winds whip up too much chop and mess in the ocean.
With the onshore winds increasing through the day, we can expect that the open and more exposed beaches will be very choppy and quite messy, and there will also be a side sweep running along their lengths from right to left.
Beaches that provide some protection from the prevailing winds will be the best options this weekend, so consider locations such as Hervey Bay, Agnes Water, Moore Park and Nielson Park Beach if you are swimming.
As mentioned earlier, hit the beach early for the better conditions, or maybe also around that late morning to midday period.
Please check with the ifeguard 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: Today – 9am to 5pm at Kelly’s Beach and Agnes Water only
Saturday – 9am to 5pm at Kelly’s Beach, Nielson Park, Oaks Beach and Agnes Water; 1pm to 5pm at Elliott Heads and Moore Park Beach
Sunday and Monday – 9am to 5pm at Elliott Heads, Kelly’s Beach, Nielson Park, Oaks Beach, Moore Park Beach and Agnes Water
Surfing: The waves have been pretty ordinary and pretty small across all local beaches over the past week or more, but there is a glimmer of hope that we may see an increase in wave heights over the coming days.
With the winds forecast to turn more E/SE and the swell direction also turning more from the E/NE, fingers crossed that we should start to see fun-sized but slightly messy waves across local beaches – probably from tomorrow and hopefully into Sunday and Monday.
Beaches such as Agnes Water, Nielson Park, Mon Repos and even Moore Park Beach should be worth a look across the long weekend. Good Luck!
For the SUP and ocean ski/kayak paddlers, it does look like the ocean will be a little bumpy and messy over the coming days, so for those looking for calm and gentle paddling conditions, you will be best served to hit the protected creeks and rivers this weekend.
However, for those more experienced paddlers, you may find some okay downwind conditions once those winds start to strengthen by this afternoon.
Events: This weekend marks the official end of the 2020/21 surf lifesaving season, with volunteer beach patrols ceasing at 5pm on Monday!
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.
- Last week's beach report: Mixed forecast for long weekend
