Well, it seems like a bit of a repeat of last week weather-wise, maybe just not to the same extreme, with warm days, light winds, and beautiful beach conditions through until Wednesday, but then the weather changed from yesterday as the overcast skies and showers arrived along with moderate S/SE to E/SE winds.
The forecast for the next three or four days is pretty similar too, with the chance of scattered showers, partly overcast skies and moderate winds through the afternoons – although they will be lighter in the mornings.
This morning, the winds will be from the E/SE at only around 10 knots, before they increase during the day and up to 15 to 20+ knots by late this afternoon.
Tomorrow will then be very similar, with 10 to 15 knots of E/SE winds in the morning that then increase to 15 to 20+ knots during the afternoon.
Sunday will be almost the same too, but just with S/SE winds at 10 to 15 knots through the early morning that then increase to 15 to 20 knots from the E/SE through the afternoon.
Swimming: The swimming conditions were sensational up until Wednesday this week, but unfortunately, we saw a return of the choppy and slightly messy conditions from yesterday as those SE winds kicked in.
Choppy and slightly messy ocean conditions will be the norm right through until Sunday or Monday now too, with the afternoons bringing the worst of the ocean conditions when the onshore winds are strongest – this will also be when the sweep or side current will be strongest as well (pushing from right to left along most beaches).
To find the best swimming conditions, you will need to hit the beaches in the very early mornings while the tides are high and the winds considerably lighter.
A word of warning though for swimmers over the coming days as the early morning high tide heights increase towards their peak next Tuesday/Wednesday – there will be lots of water movement and strong tidal currents around the creek and river mouths, so please avoid these areas if you can during the run-out stage of the tide.
But in good news for swimmers, the water clarity has been quickly improving across all beaches!
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 and Sunday – 8am to 6pm at Elliott Heads, Kelly’s Beach, Nielson Park, Oaks Beach, Moore Park Beach and Agnes Water (last weekend of extended patrol hours)
Today and weekdays – 9am to 5pm at Kelly’s Beach, Nielson Park and Agnes Water only
Surfing: It has been a mostly lean week in terms of waves this past week, but with the S/SE to E/SE winds increasing yesterday and continuing over the coming days, there is a chance of some small, but likely messy and choppy waves developing over the coming days.
It will be predominantly wind-swell, but you never know, there may be just enough there to entice the boards out of their covers – and if so, the early mornings could be the better time, but late afternoons are also worth a sneaky look too.
Nielson Park, Mon Repos, Moore Park and Agnes Water will likely be the better options too, if there are any. Good Luck!
For the SUP and ocean ski paddlers, the afternoons, and more so the late afternoons, should provide some reasonable downwind paddling options from today and through until Sunday/Monday.
For those looking for a gentler and more relaxed paddle, either hit the ocean super-early, or head to the creeks and rivers.
Events: Good luck to all local surf lifesavers competing this weekend at Emu Park Beach in the 2022 WBC Branch Senior Championships.
Important note: Remember there are updated COVID-19 restrictions, if you are at the beach, please also do your best to abide by them as much as possible!
- Last week's surf report: High winds likely for the next few days
