In today's beach report Craig Holden says minimum temperatures will gradually rise across the weekend and for those brave enough to take a dip in the ocean, the morning will be the best time.
Well, it has been a mostly sunny, but cold week – apart from a glitch in the system on Tuesday with gloomy skies and drizzly rain – with those bitterly cold and blustery SW winds yesterday giving us a gentle reminder that winter is not done with just yet!
But after another cold start to the morning this morning, we should then see the minimum temperatures gradually rise across the weekend as the winds swing more onshore and partly cloudy skies return – just be prepared for another reasonably windy day today!
There will be plenty more sunshine today though, with S/SW winds this morning at around 15 knots that will then swing more from the S/SE then from the E/SE during the day and even increase to 15 to 20 knots by late this afternoon.
The winds will gradually ease in intensity over the weekend though, which is good news for beachgoers, with tomorrow bringing S winds early at 10 to 15 knots before they then swing more from the E/SE by the afternoon. Sunday then looks even better, with only around 10 knots of E/SE winds forecast throughout the day.
Swimming: The swimming conditions have been very good this past week – that is if you were prepared to brave both the cool temperatures in and out of the water anyway!
Although having said that, with how cold that wind was yesterday, being in the water was warmer than being out of it!
As we look ahead to today and across the weekend, we can expect the swimming conditions to gradually deteriorate through the day today as the winds increase, and turn more onshore, bringing choppy conditions to most beaches – but as the winds start to ease across the weekend, the swimming conditions will also start to gradually improve.
Early this morning will be good for a swim – if you can handle the chilly start – but then across the weekend, the better time for a swim will either by super early while the winds are lighter, or around that mid to late morning period when the tide is high.
By this afternoon, you will need to look for beaches that provide some protection from the gusty S/Se to E/SE winds, so these will be Hervey Bay, Agnes Water, Moore Park Beach, and Nielson Park Beach.
Over the weekend, these beaches will again be slightly better, but by Sunday, all beaches should be quite okay once the winds ease.
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: Once again, it has been a mostly lean and unproductive week in terms of waves for the board-riders, although there were a few clean, fun-sized waves about on Tuesday before that ocean really flattened out after that.
But as we look ahead to today and the next two days, we can expect to see a slight increase in wave heights – the size will be nothing special, and it will get choppy through this afternoon especially, but there could well be few small ridable waves about through both Saturday and Sunday morning.
Check out the usual locations – Agnes Water, Nielson Park, Mon Repos, Kelly’s Beach, and Moore Park Beach for the likely better chances of finding something worth donning the wetsuit for. Good Luck.
For the SUP and ocean ski paddlers, there should be plenty of opportunity today for a slick south to north downwind paddle, and again tomorrow morning while the winds remain S/SE.
For those looking for a gentle, relaxed paddle, maybe wait for Sunday, or else hit the protected inland waterways before then.
Events: Nil.
- Last week's beach report: Sun out to play for weekend beach activities
