LifestyleFlat conditions before an increase in winds

Flat conditions before an increase in winds

flat conditions increase winds
Craig Holden says today is set to bring more flat and calm conditions, but an increase in onshore winds over the weekend is expected.

In this week's beach report Craig Holden says today is set to bring more flat and calm conditions, but an increase in onshore winds over the weekend is expected.

Well, it has been a reasonably nice week of weather around the local region this past week, with mostly sunny skies and generally light to moderate winds.

The early mornings in particular providing great ocean conditions and also spectacular sunrises.

The minimum temperatures once again dropped back to single figures yesterday, and we can expect more of this today and again tomorrow before milder temperatures return by Sunday.

Sunny skies will once again remain today before a little bit of cloud cover starts to return through tomorrow and into Sunday when we can probably expect a bit of a cloudy day.

Unfortunately, the winds will turn onshore tomorrow as well and become quite moderate too, so just be mindful of that.

Today’s winds will be only light, with the forecast being for S/SW winds at around 10 knots throughout the day.

Tomorrow will then bring S/SE winds at around 10 knots early before they increase to around 15 knots from the E/SE and then increase further to around 20 knots through the afternoon.

Sunday’s forecast is for E/SE winds at around 15 knots, but they will ease through the late afternoon and back to around 10 knots.

Swimming

The swimming conditions have been mostly quite good this past week, and particularly through the early mornings, although there were some choppy conditions throughout a few afternoons as the winds turned more onshore.

As we look ahead to the coming days, we are set for another spectacular day of both beach and swimming conditions today.

But this will change across the weekend – and as soon as through tomorrow – as the onshore winds increase and bring choppy conditions to most beaches.

If you are swimming, the early mornings will likely provide slightly better conditions while the winds are lighter.

From about mid-morning onwards, those beaches that provide some protection and shelter from the S/SE winds will be the better options.

Beaches such as Hervey Bay, Agnes Water, Moore Park Beach and Nielson Park will be the better options once the winds increase, and just be mindful that there will be a sweep running from right to left along most beaches as those winds increase too.

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

This past week provided a few small, clean and fun waves on Monday and Tuesday morning, but since then, the ocean has been mostly flat and devoid of any substantial waves to entice even the diehards out!

Now, whilst today is set to bring more flat and calm conditions, we are expecting an increase in onshore winds over the weekend, so fingers are crossed that we should start to see an increase in wave heights through tomorrow and into Sunday.

Conditions are going to be a little messy and choppy, but here’s hoping that Sunday morning might provide some fun conditions to enjoy once more.

Beaches such as Agnes Water, Nielson Park, Mon Repos and Moore Park Beach will likely be the better options once again. Good luck!

For the SUP and ocean ski paddlers, today will give you plenty of time to enjoy calm and relaxing paddling conditions on the ocean.

But if you want these same conditions on the weekend, you will need to find a protected, inland waterway to avoid the wind and chop.

But that means there should be plenty of slick downwind (south to north) opportunities for those more experienced paddlers through both tomorrow and Sunday.

Events –  Nil.

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