Well, it has been a warm, dry and sunny week across the region, but it does appear that we are in for a change in weather conditions over the weekend with a chance of showers through today and then a gusty wind change arriving during the day on Saturday and continuing into Sunday.
Temperatures will become a little cooler (not cold) across the weekend as well once the gusty SE winds arrive.
The winds will be quite light this morning at around 10 knots from the E/NE before they turn more from the N/NE later in the day and then increase to around 15 knots by late this afternoon.
Tomorrow will then bring W/SW to S/SW winds through the early morning at around 10 knots, but they will soon increase to 15 to 20+ knots from the S/SE to E/SE, with stronger gusts likely.
Sunday will then deliver 15 to 20 knots of S/SE to E/SE winds through the morning before increasing to 20 to 25 knots through the afternoon.
Swimming
The swimming conditions have been okay during the last week, although choppy conditions were present on those north-facing beaches.
As we look ahead to today and then across the weekend though, we are certainly going to be faced with varied conditions.
For today, with more northerly winds forecast, the best beaches for swimmers will certainly be Elliott Heads and Kelly’s Beach, with other beaches expected to be a little choppier.
But early tomorrow morning will provide a small window of opportunity for calm and glassy conditions across all beaches as the winds swing W/SW to S/SW.
However, this will be short lived, because once the strong SE winds arrive from about late morning on Saturday, there will be very choppy and messy conditions across the open and exposed beaches, together with a strong side sweep pushing from right to left.
Once these strong winds arrive, the best beaches for swimmers will then be Nielson Park, Moore Park, Hervey Bay and Agnes Water.
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: Saturday and Sunday – 9 am to 5 pm at Kelly's Beach and Agnes Water only.
Surfing
There has not been a lot happening in terms of waves across the local beaches during this past week thanks to the dreaded northerly winds, but there is a glimmer of hope that we may start to see an increase in wave heights through today and across the weekend.
The size will be nothing special, but fingers crossed it is enough to provide some fun for local board-riders.
Kelly’s Beach and Elliott Heads could well be worth a look through today, but then across the weekend, Agnes Water, Nielson Park, Mon Repos and Moore Park will all be likely options once that gusty SE wind change arrives.
For the SUP and ocean ski paddlers, there should be enough wind this afternoon for a north to south downwinder, but then Saturday afternoon and Sunday will throw up even better conditions for a fast south to north downwinder.
If you want a more relaxed and gentle paddle on the ocean though, your only chance will be very early Saturday morning.
Events
The 2023 SLSQ Secondary School Surf League (Wide Bay) will be held today at Nielson Park Beach, Bargara, commencing at 9 am.
Good luck to all competitors!
