Well, it has been a week of fantastic weather across the local region with the winds easing from Monday, and combined with the warm temperatures and mostly sunny skies, this gave beachgoers plenty of great beach conditions to enjoy.
Now, as we look ahead to today and into the weekend, it looks like we are in for more great weather conditions – well at least for today and tomorrow anyway – with light winds, warm temperatures and mostly sunny skies.
The only hiccup will be on Sunday, when the winds are forecast to increase from the SE, and the likelihood of showers also increases as well.
This morning will bring super light winds with 0 to 5 knots of variable winds that will then gradually increase during the day to be 5 to 10+ knots from the E/NE to N/NE.
Tomorrow will be quite similar too, with around 5 knots of N/NW winds in the morning that will then increase to 5 to 10 knots from the N/NE.
A SE wind change will then arrive overnight on Saturday night, perhaps with a thunderstorm, to bring 5 to 10 knots of E/SE winds on Sunday morning that will then increase up to 15+ knots during the day.
Swimming
The swimming conditions have been just like the weather this week – fantastic – and fingers crossed we will get more of the same over the coming days.
The light winds for today and tomorrow will provide great swimming conditions, particularly through the mornings while the tide is high and the winds light.
Sunday will also be good for swimmers through the early morning, but as the E/SE winds increase during the day, the ocean will become choppy – and more so at those open and exposed beaches.
All beaches will be great for swimming through the mornings from today through until Sunday, but Elliott Heads and Kelly’s Beach will be even better as those afternoon northerly sea breezes kick-in.
Then on Sunday, beaches such as Hervey Bay, Agnes Water, Nielson Park Beach and Moore Park Beach will be better as the SE winds start to increase later in the day.
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 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 am 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 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 enjoying more great swell conditions across our local beaches, but the wave heights did start to decrease quite quickly from about Tuesday afternoon onwards.
Unfortunately, it does not appear that the wave heights are going to increase over the coming days either, with the likelihood for only small, but clean waves through the early mornings that will probably only be suited to the longboards or SUP’s.
Try your luck from early morning through until about mid-morning, with all beaches worth a look.
For the SUP and ocean ski paddlers, there will be plenty of calm and gentle conditions to enjoy through the early mornings, with Kelly’s Beach and Elliott Heads looking great today and tomorrow.
If you are looking for a downwind paddle though, you may need to wait until Sunday afternoon when there should be enough wind for south to north run.
Events
Good luck to the small group of local surf lifesavers competing this weekend at the Summer of Surf Shannon Eckstein Ironman Classic at Northcliffe (Gold Coast).
Other news:
- EmpowerHER MarketFest bigger and better
- Brad Cox set for Yarns and Yodels at Moncrieff
- Get moving with Be Active Be Alive parks program
