The community can expect overcast skies today as well as showers, before the weekend brings mostly sunny weather.
Well, it has been a mixed week of weather conditions this past week, with moderate winds, and a few days of overcast skies keeping the crowds away, and also keeping the ocean a little choppy too!
As we look ahead to today and then across the weekend, we are set for more mixed conditions as well, so be prepared and keep an eye on the sky (probably more so today!).
The forecast is for overcast skies today as well as showers too, before the weekend then brings mostly sunny skies – together with light winds as well, which should be music to the ears of beach goers.
Today’s winds will be from the N/NE at around 10 to 15 knots, so expect choppy conditions on those beaches that face in a more northerly direction.
Tomorrow and Sunday will then bring light but variable winds, with W/SW to S/SW to N/NE winds forecast at around 5 knots, but will increase up to 5 to 10 knots.
Temperatures will remain quite mild and even warm too, which will also be beneficial for a trip to the beach.
Swimming: Swimming conditions have been mixed this past week, just like the weather, with reasonable conditions through the early mornings, but then choppy conditions developing through the day.
For today, most beaches will again provide choppy conditions thanks to the northerly winds, with beaches that face in a more northerly direction being a little worse than others.
My advice today would be to swim at Kelly’s Beach or Elliott Heads to get the better swimming conditions, however, as we get to the weekend, all beaches should be quite okay through the mornings – and more so in the early mornings while the winds are light and even slightly offshore (and the tide high too!).
The afternoons on both Saturday and Sunday will see those winds turn from the N/NE again, but they will be reasonably light, but again – Kelly’s Beach and Elliott Heads will be slightly better through the weekend afternoons.
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: Not much joy has been found this past week for local board riders, but there were a few opportunities here and there to find some clean. Fun waves early in the week.
Looking ahead to today and into the weekend, we are expecting those dreaded northerly winds today, so this will likely mean ordinary surfing conditions at most beaches, but if you are keen, have a look at the northern end of Kelly’s Beach for a small but cleaner wave.
The weekend will then bring light but variable winds, so maybe have a look through the very early mornings while the winds are light and offshore to maybe find a small mal wave.
Good luck and don’t get your hopes up!
For the SUP and ocean ski paddlers, a north to south downwind paddle could be on the cards today if the northerly winds get up over 10 knots, but for those looking for a calm and relaxed paddle, you should find these conditions through the early mornings tomorrow and again on Sunday.
Events: The 2022 SLSQ Secondary School Surf League – Wide Bay – is being held today at Nielson Park Beach, Bargara, commencing at 9 am.
Sign-on days for local surf lifesaving clubs are happening over coming weekends – for more information please visit their websites or Facebook pages.
Good luck to the small group of local surf lifesavers that will be heading to Hervey Bay tomorrow to compete in the 2022 Hervey Bay Masters Carnival.
- Last week's beach report: Start of spring brings mixed weather conditions
