Well, it has been another mixed week of weather across the region this past week, with a couple of nice days to start the week before gusty northerly winds set in from Wednesday, along with humid and very warm temperatures.
Northerly winds will continue today, along with warm temperatures and the chance of a thunderstorm, but the wind strength will ease slightly with the forecast suggesting today will bring N/NW to N/NE winds at 15 to 20 knots.
But things will change for the weekend as a SE wind change moves into the region tonight (hopefully behind a storm) and brings E/SE winds for tomorrow at around 20 knots.
Sunday will then be quite similar with E/SE winds at 10 to 15 knots, but they will reach 15 plus knots by late afternoon and turn slightly more from the E/NE late as well.
Temperatures will be slightly milder across the weekend as well, with maximums expected at around 26 to 27 degrees.
Swimming
Swimming conditions have also been quite mixed this week, with a nice start to the week in the ocean with mostly mild conditions, but these were soon replaced with messy and choppy conditions from Wednesday – particularly on those north-facing beaches.
These choppy conditions will continue today at those north-facing beaches, so if you are thinking of a swim today, I would certainly recommend both Elliott Heads and Kelly’s Beach as the best locations.
However, for the weekend, things will change once again as the wind swings in the opposite direction to be from the E/SE, but choppy conditions will still remain – this time they will be worse at those beaches that are exposed to the SE winds.
Therefore, across the weekend, the best beaches for swimmers will be Hervey Bay, Agnes Water, Nielson Park Beach and Moore Park Beach, with the best time for a swim being either in the very early mornings or around midday.
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!
Today: 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 Beach, Oaks Beach and Agnes Water, 1 to 5 pm at Elliott Heads and Moore Park Beach.
Sunday: 9 am to 5 pm at Elliott Heads, Kelly's Beach, Nielson Park Beach, Oaks Beach, Moore Park Beach and Agnes Water.
Surfing
Much like the weather and the swimming conditions, the surf conditions have also been quite mixed and varied this past week.
There were plenty of waves about early in the week but the conditions were quite sloppy and wobbly, and tricky to navigate.
For today, your best chance of finding a wave will be to head to Kelly’s Beach or Elliott Heads through this morning and try to find some northerly fun.
But for the weekend, beaches such as Agnes Water, Mon Repos, Nielson Park Beach and Moore Park Beach may just provide enough of a fun wave with the change in wind direction.
Nothing to get too excited about, but good luck anyway!
For the SUP and Ocean Ski paddlers, there should be plenty of options for a north to south down-winder today, but then for tomorrow you should be able to find some south to north downwind action once the wind direction changes overnight.
For those chasing calm and gentle conditions however, you will need to stick to the inland and protected waterways.
Events
A local Junior Surf Life Saving Carnival will be held at the Bundaberg SLSC (Nielson Park Beach, Bargara) commencing at 8.30 am.
Good luck to all competing juniors!
