Well, it has been another ordinary week of weather for the most part this week, with moderate to strong onshore winds, and slightly cooler than average temperatures as well – not exactly perfect beach weather that is for sure!
But as we look ahead to today and the weekend, there is some good news for beachgoers, with the winds expected to ease through today and tomorrow, before they start to increase slightly again on Sunday.
Today’s winds will be predominantly from the E/NE to N/NE at around 10 knots throughout the day, before tomorrow morning then brings very light W/SW to S/SW winds (around 5 knots only).
These winds will then swing more from the E/SE through Saturday afternoon, and also increase to around 10 to 15 knots as well.
Sunday will then bring E/SE winds throughout the day at 10 to 15 knots. Once again, we should also see predominantly sunny skies for the most part, but the chance of showers will increase on Sunday.
Swimming: Swimming conditions have been very mixed this past week as well, as you would expect with the strong onshore winds, and the ocean has been very choppy and messy for most of the week.
These choppy and messy conditions will ease throughout today and further again into tomorrow morning as the winds ease, but the choppy conditions will then return through Saturday afternoon and into Sunday.
With this in mind, the options for swimmers will also change along with the winds – for today, the best beaches will certainly be Elliott Heads and Kelly’s Beach, however, for tomorrow morning, all beaches will have great swimming conditions.
Then through tomorrow afternoon and again into Sunday, the better beaches will be Agnes Water, Hervey Bay, Moore Park Beach and Nielson Park.
The best times for a swim will either be in the very early mornings while the winds are lighter, or an hour or two either side of midday while the tide is higher.
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 – 9 am to 5 pm at Kelly’s Beach and Agnes Water only
Saturday – 9 am to 5 pm at Kelly’s Beach, Nielson Park, Oaks Beach and Agnes Water; 1 pm to 5 pm at Elliott Heads and Moore Park Beach
Sunday – 9 am to 5 pm at Elliott Heads, Kelly’s Beach, Nielson Park, Oaks Beach, Moore Park Beach and Agnes Water
Surfing: This past week has thrown up plenty of options for board-riders, with fun-sized waves about almost all local beaches, although the waves were quite messy early in the week.
The wave quality has improved over the past day or two as the winds have eased, and fingers are crossed that this will continue through today and into the weekend as well.
Today’s forecast for northerly winds will not help though – so maybe consider checking out Kelly’s Beach or even Elliott Heads today for cleaner waves – or else maybe Saturday and Sunday morning could be better at the usual locations – Nielson Park, Mon Repos, Moore Park Beach and Agnes Water. Good luck!
For the SUP and ocean ski paddlers, Saturday morning should be quite okay for a more relaxing and calm paddle on the ocean – maybe even with a few clean, fun waves to enjoy as well.
If not, you may be able to grab a downwind paddle (south to north) late Saturday afternoon or even on Sunday if those winds increase.
Events: The iconic Coolangatta Gold – a long distance endurance Ironman/Ironwoman race – will be held on the Gold Coast this weekend.
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