Well, it has been another mixed week of weather across the local region with moderate winds through the early part of the week, which were then replaced by light winds on Wednesday but then the showers and rain periods arrived, and the winds have again started to increase in strength from late yesterday afternoon and overnight.
These moderate E/SE winds will now remain with us through today and across the weekend, with the general trend being light to moderate winds through the morning, and then moderate to strong winds through the afternoons.
Showers and rain periods are likely through this morning as well, with just the chance of scattered showers across the weekend.
This morning will bring E/SE winds at around 15 knots before they then increase to 20 knots through this afternoon.
Tomorrow and Sunday are then expected to be very similar, with E/SE winds at 10 to 15 knots through the mornings and then 15 to 20 knots through the afternoons.
Swimming
The swimming conditions have been quite okay during this past week, despite the moderate swell and the amount of water movement about local beaches, with both Wednesday and Thursday throwing up gentle conditions for almost the entire day.
As we look forward to today and across the weekend, the currents and tidal movement will subside, but unfortunately the forecast suggests we are in for more moderate E/SE winds (strongest in the afternoons) that will cause choppy and messy conditions on the open and exposed beaches, along with a side sweep or current pushing from south to north (right to left).
The best times for a swim will be through the early mornings while the winds are lighter, or from early to mid-afternoon while the tide is higher.
The best beaches for swimmers will likely be Hervey Bay and Agnes Water, with Nielson Park and Moore Park Beach the better options locally.
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 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 Beach, Oaks Beach and 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 Beach, Oaks Beach, Moore Park and Agnes Water.
Please note: These are minimum patrol times – some locations may have longer hours of patrol time
Surfing
Local board-riders have once again been able to find plenty of waves about the local beaches this week, with just a very slight drop in height through Wednesday and into yesterday.
But, as we look ahead to today and then across the weekend, the forecast would suggest we should see another increase in wave heights through today and a continuation of fun waves across the weekend – the only issues, once again, will be whether the moderate onshore winds mess up those wave faces and make conditions sloppy and messy.
Try the very early mornings, or else again around early to mid-afternoon, for potentially the better conditions, whilst beaches such as Agnes Water, Nielson Park, Mon Repos and Moore Park Beach will be the better locations.
For the SUP and ocean ski paddlers, the E/SE winds will not provide ideal downwind paddling conditions due to the swell direction and messy ocean, but there should be enough wind for those keen for a south to north paddle.
If not, try your luck on the beaches catching a few waves, or else hit the inland waterways out of the wind for a more relaxed paddle.
Events
Good luck to all of the local junior surf lifesavers that will compete this weekend at the 20224 WBC Branch Junior Surf Lifesaving Championships being hosted by the Hervey Bay SLS.
