Well, once again it has been another mixed week of weather with gusty SE winds on Tuesday and Wednesday along with quite mild and warm temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday as well.
Overcast skies returned yesterday too, along with the odd scattered shower, and these conditions could get even more frequent through today, but more so through tomorrow when rain periods are likely before showers are again forecast on Sunday.
Temperatures will remain quite mild once again today, but we can expect tomorrow to be a chilly one if the predicted rain arrives and keeps the maximum temperature quite low.
Those chilly early mornings and evenings will then return again by Sunday and into Monday.
The winds today will be from the NE to N/NE at only 5 to 10 knots, before tomorrow brings N/NE to W/NW winds through the morning at around 10 knots and then a S/SW wind change will arrive during the day at around 15 knots.
Sunday will then bring Southerly winds at around 15 knots right throughout the day.
Swimming: Swimming conditions certainly got a little choppy and messy through the early to middle part of this week but yesterday’s drop in wind strengths brought a return to mostly calm and mild ocean conditions.
These mostly calm ocean conditions should continue through today and again tomorrow, although those beaches that face in a more northerly direction could just see some slight chop on the ocean surface.
By Saturday afternoon, should see an offshore wind change that will flatten the ocean out once again, before slightly choppy conditions return again on Sunday, and particularly on the open and more exposed beaches.
The best time for a swim over the coming days will be from early morning through until mid to late morning when the tide is high and the winds slightly lighter.
The best beaches for swimmers today and again tomorrow morning will be Elliott Heads and Kelly’s Beach, but by tomorrow afternoon and into Sunday, beaches such as Agnes Water, Nielson Park, Moore Park Beach and Hervey Bay will be the better options.
Please check with the Lifeguard 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 and weekdays – Nil
Saturday and Sunday – 9am to 5pm at Kelly’s Beach and Agnes Water only
Surfing: Yesterday and also Wednesday brought plenty of fun-sized waves to our local beaches for the board-riders to enjoy and although they were not huge, they were clean and fun.
Looking ahead to the coming days and there is no reason why these small, clean, and fun waves should not hang around at least until tomorrow, with that early to mid-morning period likely to be the best time to find some fun.
Beaches such as Kelly’s Beach and Elliott Heads could surprise with the current wind forecast, but if not, Nielson Park, Moore Park Beach, Mon Repos and Agnes Water will also be worth a look too.
For the SUP and ocean ski/kayak paddlers, if you are keen for a gentle ocean paddle, both today and tomorrow will be worth a look, although there will be a little roll and bump in the ocean as well.
Then, by Sunday, there may just be enough wind to provide some reasonable downwind conditions for those more experienced paddlers too.
Events: Nil.
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: Beautiful winter days on the way
