LifestyleStrong winds a board riders delight

Strong winds a board riders delight

strong winds
Craig Holden says the strong winds have at least put a smile on the faces of the board-riders this week. Photo: File – Nielson Beach Park

Anyone else sick of these strong winds yet?

I am sure I am not the only one – well apart from the kite surfers and wind surfers anyway!

It feels like we have had no respite lately, and if anything, they even got stronger earlier this week.

But good news is coming for beach goers, with the winds forecast to ease through today and across the weekend, but there is the chance of showers about the coast until Sunday, with an increased probability of showers tomorrow, before sunny skies become more prevalent by Monday (if not sooner).

Today’s winds will be from the S/SE this morning at 10 to 15 knots, before they swing more from the E/SE by this afternoon and creep up to about 15+ knots.

Tomorrow will then bring S/SE winds through the early morning that will then swing from the E/SE during the middle of the day and then from the E/NE through the afternoon, but only at around 5 to 10 knots in strength.

Sunday’s winds will be variable at 5 to 10 knots, before Sunday brings S/SW to E/NE winds, also at 5 to 10 knots.

Swimming: The swimming conditions have been mostly ordinary during this past week, unless you have been able to hit the beach during the very early mornings to find some relief from the winds, and also calmer ocean conditions.

But don’t despair because there is good news coming for the long weekend for swimmers!

As the winds ease, so will the swimming conditions improve as the ocean starts to settle and calm – and this should be the case from tomorrow onwards!

Today will still bring slightly choppy and messy conditions, but the general trend for the long weekend will be mild and calm conditions, with maybe a few clean, fun waves as well.

If you are swimming, the best conditions will be either in the very early mornings, or else from mid to late afternoon when the tide is higher, but it really should not matter too much as there is not much tidal variance over the coming days at beaches.

All beaches will quite okay for swimmers over the long weekend, but Kelly’s Beach and Elliott Heads will be slightly better through the afternoons when the wind swings more from the NE.

Please check with the surf lifesavers or 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 and 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 and Monday (Labour Day) – 9 am to 5 pm at Elliott Heads, Kelly’s Beach, Nielson Park, Oaks Beach, Moore Park Beach and Agnes Water

Weekdays (after Monday) – NIL

Surfing: Well, the strong winds have at least put a smile on the faces of the board-riders this week, with plenty of fun waves about local beaches to enjoy, particularly through the mornings while the winds have been a little lighter and the waves cleaner.

Looking ahead to the weekend, and despite the wave heights dropping, there should still be plenty of small, fun waves about to enjoy – particularly if the swell direction turns more E/NE as forecast, and we get a little bit of longer period swell (fingers crossed!).

Anyway, the wave heights won’t be huge, so hopefully they are clean!

Maybe Agnes Water, Nielson Park. Mon Repos and Moore Park could be the better options, but don’t rule out Kelly’s Beach and even Elliott Heads when the wind drops.

For the SUP and ocean ski paddlers looking for a downwind paddle, you had better get one in today (south to north) because there will not be much on offer across the weekend when the wind drops away.

But there should be plenty of mild ocean conditions, and maybe a few fun waves about across the weekend.

Events: Monday is the last day of the 2022-23 Surf Lifesaving Season, with volunteer surf lifesavers pulling down the red and yellow flags for the last time until the new season starts on Saturday 16 September.

  • Last week's report: Early morning is the best time to take a dip

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