Well, after a cool start to the week the temperatures have certainly increased over the past two days with warm and mild days and nights being the norm, and looking ahead to the weekend, it does appear that it will also be quite a mild weekend as well, with plenty of sunshine, which is great news for beachgoers.
After two days of northerly winds, we will wake today to a change in wind direction – with S/SE winds arriving – but these will be short lived as the northerly winds will return for the weekend.
This morning’s winds will be coming from the S/S-SE at around 10 to 15 knots, and perhaps a little gustier, before swinging more from the E/SE by this afternoon at 10 to 15 knots.
Tomorrow will then deliver very light E/NE winds early (5 to 10 knots) before they also turn more from the N/NE during the afternoon at a similar strength.
Sunday will then bring very light N/NW winds in the morning (around 5 knots) before they increase to 10 to 15 knots by mid-afternoon.
Swimming: The swimming conditions have been very good through the early part of this week, before choppier conditions kicked in through Wednesday afternoon and into yesterday as those northerly winds started to strengthen.
For today, we can again expect choppy ocean conditions with moderate S/SE to E/SE winds forecast, but the swimming conditions should improve slightly through tomorrow and into Sunday morning, before once again we see slightly choppier conditions by Sunday afternoon.
For today, the better beaches for swimmers will be locations such as Agnes Water, Hervey Bay, Moore Park Beach and Nielson Park, however for the weekend this will change, and beaches such as Elliott Heads and Kelly’s Beach will certainly be the picks for swimmers.
The best time for a swim will either by in the very early mornings while the winds are lighter, or again from midday to mid-afternoon while the tide is higher.
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: Once again, we have seen yet another week go by with nothing on offer for the board-riders apart from some small, choppy, northerly slop yesterday.
Looking ahead to the coming days and unfortunately, the outlook is not looking promising either, but today could throw up some marginally bigger waves that will still be messy, but perhaps just big enough to get the diehards back in the water.
Across the weekend we would expect the waves to again be very small, but the early mornings may throw up at least some cleaner (but still small) waves. Good luck – I think we may need it!
For the SUP and ocean ski/kayak paddlers, the ocean will likely be quite choppy and even quite confused through today, so it is doubtful the paddling conditions will be great.
However, both tomorrow and Sunday are looking better, and particularly at locations such as Kelly’s Beach and Elliott Heads where the ocean will be much calmer.
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: Warm and windy before cool weather returns
