Craig Holden says to check forecasts regularly if you’re planning a New Year swim, with a low pressure system sitting off the Queensland coast.
WEATHER
Well, here we are – New Year’s Eve – the last day of 2021, and all set for the start of 2022 tomorrow!
I hope you all enjoy yourselves tonight and wake up tomorrow feeling fantastic!!
Well after a very warm and muggy start to this week, those gusty SE winds have arrived with a vengeance, along with a few showers, and because of this the beach conditions have not been very favourable over the past couple of days either!
Looking ahead to the long weekend, and the weather will largely depend on the track of the Low-Pressure System sitting off the Queensland Coast, so it would be wise to check forecasts regularly over the coming days.
This aside, the general indication is that we are in for more windy days ahead, with S/SE to E/SE winds expected to be moderate to strong for at least the next 3 or 4 days at least – with just a chance of a brief period of S/SW winds on Sunday or Monday.
Today and tomorrow are likely to be the windiest days, with 20 to 25+ knots of S/SE to E/SE winds today and 20 to 25 knots of E/SE winds tomorrow predicted.
Sunday will then bring a slight reprieve, with 15 to 20 knots of S/SE winds expected, before Monday brings 15 knots of S/SW winds early that will then increase to 20 to 25 knots from the S/SE to E/SE through the afternoon.
Showers are also expected today and tomorrow as well.
SWIMMING
After being greeted with superb swimming conditions up until Tuesday morning this week, we certainly saw a quick change in the ocean conditions from Tuesday afternoon onwards, with choppy and very messy conditions being the norm on most beaches, and especially those open and exposed beaches.
These choppy and messy conditions will continue over the coming days, and they will even become rough on those more open and exposed beaches where there will also be a strong side sweep pushing from right to left along their lengths.
High tide heights are also very large over the coming days, so there will also be lots of water movement and strong currents during the outgoing stage of the tide so swimmers will need to be very careful – please avoid the creek and river mouths during the early part of the runout tide as well.
Beaches that provide protection from the strong winds will be the better options – Hervey Bay and Agnes Water, and to a lesser extent, Moore Park and Nielson Park.
The best time for a swim will be in the early mornings too! Please check with the Lifesavers or 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
SATURDAY, SUNDAY & MONDAY – 8 am to 6 pm @ Elliott Heads, Kelly’s Beach, Nielson Park, Oaks Beach, Moore Park Beach & Agnes Water, PLUS a Roving Lifeguard across the Bundaberg Region; ALSO Early Morning RWC Surveillance Patrols operate from 6 am around the Bargara and Mon Repos areas.
WEEKDAYS (Non-Public Holidays) – 9 am to 5 pm @ Elliott Heads, Kelly’s Beach, Nielson Park, Oaks Beach, Moore Park Beach & Agnes Water, PLUS a Roving Lifeguard across the Bundaberg Region; ALSO Early Morning RWC Surveillance Patrols operate from 6.00am around the Bargara and Mon Repos areas. (Please Note – some beaches and services MAY have longer hours of patrol).
SURFING
Well, the local board riders have been enjoying plenty of waves about our local beaches for the past few days – although it has been very windy, choppy and messy – and all indications are that the waves should hang around for a few more days yet (and possibly even improve!).
Nielson Park, Moore Park Beach, Agnes Water and Mon Repos will all be worth hitting over the coming days, with local beaches expected to fair better through the early mornings or again in the late afternoons, whilst the Point at Agnes Water will improve later in the morning as the tide drops – but it will be crowded! Fingers crossed for a few more days of waves!!
For the more experienced SUP and ocean-ski paddlers looking for some fast downwind action, today and again tomorrow should provide more strong winds and plenty of south to north ocean paddling options, and after that, both Sunday and Monday afternoons are also looking quite good as well.
But for those looking for a more relaxed and gentle float, you will need to hit the protected waterways and explore some of our beautiful creeks and rivers.
EVENTS
On behalf of the volunteer Surf Lifesavers across the Bundaberg Region, I would like to wish everyone a very Safe and Happy New Year!
And remember, please do NOT mix alcohol with swimming!!
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.
