Well, it has once again been a differing week of weather conditions!
It has certainly been hot and very muggy, but for the most part we were greeted also with sunny skies and very light winds up until Wednesday, and then stronger northerly winds and cloudy skies returned yesterday.
Looking ahead to the coming days and once again, the forecast is a little mixed – showers are forecast over the next three days at least, so it will pay to keep an eye on the sky before planning a beach trip, and it does also appear that the humidity will remain too.
But, if the showers do not eventuate, it will be reasonably good for a trip to the beach – particularly over the weekend.
This morning’s winds will be moderate and from the N/NE at around 15 knots before they ease slightly back to 10 to 15 knots by late this afternoon.
Tomorrow morning will then bring lighter E/NE to N/NE winds at around 10 knots, and they should remain around this strength for most of the day.
Sunday will then be similar with lighter N/NW winds (5 to 10 knots) in the morning that will then increase to 10 to 15 knots through the afternoon.
Swimming: The swimming conditions were very good through until Wednesday this week, with glassy conditions on all beaches through the mornings, but these conditions certainly changed yesterday when those gusty northerly winds arrived, and the choppy and messy conditions were back!
These choppy and messy conditions will continue for today, but they will be worse on beaches that are exposed to these winds – if you head to beaches such as Kelly’s beach or Elliott Heads, you will find much better swimming conditions.
Conditions will gradually improve by this afternoon, and then tomorrow and also Sunday morning, most beaches will provide pretty good swimming conditions – particularly through until late morning while the tide is high.
Due to the mostly northerly winds over the coming days, Elliott Heads and Kelly’s Beach will continue to provide the best swimming conditions, but the other beaches will be quite OK through the mornings tomorrow and Sunday.
Just be mindful of a side sweep pushing to the south (or to the right facing the water), and quite a bit of water movement too – plus the water is still quite dirty ad murky as well – so be cautious if swimming.
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 – 9am to 5pm at Elliott Heads, Kelly’s Beach, Nielson Park, Oaks Beach, Moore Park Beach and Agnes Water
Weekdays – 9am to 5pm at Kelly’s Beach and Agnes Water only
Surfing: Local board-riders have again scored some more clean and fun waves during the early part of this past week, but those northerly winds certainly ruined the fun yesterday!
If you can tolerate the choppy and messy conditions, there should still be a bit of size about in the waves through today, but maybe consider hitting Kelly’s Beach or Elliott Heads to avoid the wind and maybe find slightly cleaner conditions.
Them across the weekend, keep an eye on all locations, with the possibility of some long-range ground swell arriving on local beaches – it will not be huge, but if the wind drops it could just be worth getting wet for at the right stage of the tide. Good luck!
For the SUP and ocean ski paddlers, today should provide some reasonable downwind conditions to enjoy for a north to south run, and then both tomorrow morning and Sunday morning could then see the ocean calm down enough for an early morning relaxing paddle, and even a few small, fun waves.
Events: Nil
- Last week's beach report: Uncertain weather forecast for local beaches
