In this week's beach report Craig Holden says warm weather is set to continue with all signs pointing to favourable beach conditions
Weather
Well, it has been an absolute stunner of a week in terms of weather, and more importantly in terms of beach weather!
Yeah, it has been warm and muggy, but the beach conditions have been sensational, and there were plenty of people at the beaches enjoying Australia Day yesterday as well!
Now looking ahead to the weekend, it looks as though we are set for a continuation of the warm weather, with winds expected to be light to moderate as well, so it does appear that it is looking good for more great beach conditions.
There will be more wind in the afternoons than through the mornings, with those afternoon sea breezes forecast to reach around 15 knots.
This morning the wind will be light (5 to 10 knots) and from the E/NE to E, before it swings back from the E/NE this afternoon and increase to 10 to 15 knots.
Tomorrow will be similar too, with E/SE to E winds in the morning at around 10 knots, which will then increase to around 15 knots from the E/NE through the afternoon.
Sunday is similar again too, with E/SE to E winds at 5 to 10 knots in the morning, which will then increase to 10 to 15 knots from the E/NE through the afternoon.
Swimming
Swimming conditions have been very good through this past week, thanks to the light winds and calm ocean, and we are hopeful that this trend will continue across the weekend.
However, having said that, the pattern across the weekend will be calmer ocean conditions through the mornings and then slightly choppy ocean conditions through the afternoons when the afternoon sea breezes settle in.
The best time for a swim over the coming days will be through the very early mornings when the wind is at its lightest, but it will be low tide then too.
If not, that period from late morning to mid-afternoon will quite OK too when the tide is higher.
All beaches will be quite OK through the early mornings, but as the afternoon E/NE sea breezes kick in, beaches such as Kelly’s Beach and Elliott Heads may be slightly better options at this time of day.
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 & 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
Well, after a few days of clean, glassy waves across last weekend and into the early part of this week, the wave heights finally gave way to mostly small and flat conditions from about mid-week onwards.
Looking ahead to the coming days, and it appears that there is no real hope of any quality surfing conditions, but the mornings may just throw up enough of a clean, small wave to entice the mal riders out for a grovel.
Check out the usual locations in the hope of finding something worth getting wet for and good luck!
For the SUP and Ocean Ski paddlers, if you hit the beaches in the very early mornings, you will find plenty of calm and gentle paddling conditions.
If you are seeking a downwind paddle though, you may have to wait until the afternoons, and probably Saturday afternoon is looking more promising too.
Events
Good Luck to all of our local junior surf lifesavers that will be competing this weekend at Yeppoon in the 2023 WBC Branch Junior Surf Lifesaving Championships.
