Well, it has certainly been a very mixed week of weather across the local region during this past week, with very warm and muggy temperatures on Monday and Tuesday replaced by rain, strong winds and cooler temperatures from Wednesday onwards.
Looking ahead to today and across the weekend, and unfortunately things are not looking too much better – although the rain will ease back to only scattered showers for today and tomorrow, before a likely, slight increase again on Sunday.
Temperatures will remain cooler than average as well, with the gusty onshore winds set to continue.
This morning’s winds will be slightly offshore early at around 15 knots before they swing more the S/SE and increase to 15 to 20 knots and then further to 20+ knots through the afternoon.
Tomorrow morning will bring Southerly winds at 15 to 20 knots before they then also swing from the S/SE to E/SE and increase to 20 to 25 knots through the afternoon. Sunday’s forecast is then for S/SE to E/SE winds at 15 to 20 knots.
Swimming
Swimming conditions have also been varied during this past week, just like the weather, with quite good conditions on Monday and Tuesday, which were then replaced with messy and slightly rough conditions from Wednesday.
Unfortunately, these swimming conditions will not improve much over the coming days either, unless you hit the beach in the very early mornings (while the winds are lighter and slightly offshore) or you head to beaches that provide protection from the gusty winds and messy surf.
Hervey Bay will be the absolute best of the beaches in the region this weekend, with Fraser Island providing much-needed protection from the wind and the waves.
Most other beaches will be very messy and choppy – and could even get quite rough depending on the beach – whilst there will also be a strong side sweep pushing from right to left across the open and exposed beaches as well.
For the most favourable swimming conditions, hit the beach through the very early mornings, and head to beaches that give some protection from the predominantly SE winds.
Hervey Bay will be the best, followed by Agnes Water (adjacent to the headland), and to a lesser extent 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– 9 am to 5 pm at Kelly’s Beach and Agnes Water ONLY
SATURDAY & SUNDAY – 9 am to 5 pm at Elliott Heads, Kelly’s Beach, Nielson Park, Oaks Beach, Moore Park Beach & Agnes Water, PLUS a Rove Lifeguard operating in the Bundaberg Region (Please Note: Operational Hours may differ at certain beaches, with patrol hour extensions from 8 am to 6 pm)
WEEKDAYS (from Monday) – 9 am to 5 pm at Elliott Heads, Kelly’s Beach, Nielson Park, Oaks Beach, Moore Park Beach and Agnes Water, PLUS a Rove Lifeguard operating in the Bundaberg Region
Surfing
There was no joy for local board-riders last weekend and again through the early part of this week, but the change in weather, and increase in SE winds, has brought about an increase in wave heights through the past day or so.
The waves have been quite messy and wind-effected at most locations, but the wave heights have been increasing steadily.
These conditions should continue across the weekend too, with cleaner conditions likely through the very early mornings, but don’t discount the afternoon incoming tide for some fun waves as well.
Agnes Water will be the best of the local locations, but Nielson Park, Moore Park Beach and Mon Repos will also all be worth checking out. Good Luck!
For the SUP and ocean ski paddlers, there will be plenty of quick, fun downwind paddling conditions (going from south to north) over the coming days, but for those looking for calm and gentle conditions, you will have to head to the inland, protected waterways.
Events
Good luck to our local surf lifesavers competing in various carnivals around the State this weekend – Summer of Surf Hayden Kenny Classic (Alexandra Headland), Qld Beach Series Round 2 (Mooloolaba) or U8-U15 Junior 4-Point Carnival (Hervey Bay).
