In today's beach report Craig Holden says the sun will be back out to play this weekend after gloomy weather dominated the beginning of the week:
Well, what a cold and miserable week it has been for the most part this week with dark and gloomy skies, drizzly rain, and very chilly daytime maximum temperatures.
In good news, the sun finally decided to come back out to play on Wednesday, and it looks set to stay out right across the weekend.
We will return to a typical winter weather pattern of chilly nights and early mornings that will then warm slightly during the day as maximums hover around 19 to 20 degrees.
In even better news for swimmers too, the winds are set to remain mostly offshore (although they will be chilly) and only light to moderate in strength at best.
Today’s winds will be from the W/SW early at around 10 to 15 knots before easing during the day to around 10 knots.
Tomorrow will then bring SW winds at around 10 knots right throughout the day, before Sunday delivers S/SW winds also at around 10 knots for the entire day.
Swimming
Despite the miserable weather early in the week, those that were prepared to brave the chilly temperatures were able to find great swimming conditions, with calm and glassy ocean conditions the norm for most of this past week, as the offshore winds dominated the wind direction.
As we look ahead to today and then across the weekend, we can expect more great swimming conditions as the winds remain mostly offshore and hence keep the ocean mostly calm and flat – you will just need to be prepared to brave the cool wind and a dropping ocean temperature!
The best time for a swim over the coming days will either be in the very early mornings or wait until around mid-afternoon while the tide is higher, and the sun has warmed things up a bit!
All beaches will provide good swimming conditions through today and tomorrow, but perhaps by Sunday those beaches that provide a little protection from the more southerly winds could be slightly better – Hervey Bay, Agnes Water, Moore Park Beach, and Nielson Park Beach.
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 – 9 am to 5 pm at Kelly’s Beach and Agnes Water only
Surfing
Despite last Sunday throwing up a few super-clean, and fun-sized waves, the ocean has been pretty much calm and flat for the rest of the week, with just a few very, very small, clean waves for the diehards to chase, although there was a small increase through Wednesday that enticed a few holidaymakers out into the water to enjoy the sunshine.
However, heading into the weekend, it does appear that we will see a return to mostly calm and flat ocean conditions, with just a very small but clean wave about that will likely only suit the mal riders, if indeed anyone.
Keep an eye on the usual locations though as you never know! Good Luck!
For the SUP and Ocean Ski Paddlers, there will be no shortage of opportunities to get on the ocean and enjoy the calm, gentle paddling conditions over the coming days, with the mornings perhaps being the better time.
For those chasing a slick downwind paddle though, you may not quite get enough wind this weekend, but keep an eye on the forecast in case it gets stronger than forecast.
EVENTS: Good luck to local surf lifesavers competing tomorrow at the SLSQ Pool Rescue Competition in Brisbane.
SLSQ Lifeguards from across the Wide Bay Capricorn Region will come together tomorrow morning at Kelly’s Beach, Bargara, to undertake their annual fitness tests and re-accreditations.
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