Well, winter returned during this past week with chilly temperatures and single figure minimums, but the days have been mild with plenty of sunshine and blue skies and just some moderate winds to contend with.
Looking ahead to the coming days, it appears that we are in for more of the same with sunshine and blue skies, chilly mornings and evenings but mild temperatures during the day along with light to moderate winds.
This morning’s winds will be from the S/SDW at around 10 knots before they swing more from the S/SE to E/SE during the day at just over 10 knots.
Saturday will be similar but a little stronger, with 10 to 15 knots of S/SE to E/SE predicted.
Sunday will then continue the S/SE to E/SE wind trend, with the wind strength set to drop to just over 10 knots.
Swimming
This past week has brought us reasonable swimming conditions for those brave enough to hit the cool water and then brave the chilly winds afterwards, with just some onshore chop developing over the past couple of days as the winds increased.
Now, in great news for swimmers, the forecast suggests that we should see similar conditions over the coming days, with gentler and calmer conditions through the mornings while the winds are lighter and more from the S/SW to S and then slightly choppier conditions through the afternoon s as the onshore winds strengthen.
The best time for swimmers will certainly be from early to mid-mornings while the tide is high and the winds light but the late afternoons may also surprise.
All beaches should be ok through the early mornings but from about mid-morning onwards, the better options will be Agnes Water, Nielson Park Beach, Moore Park Beach and Hervey Bay.
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!
Weekdays: 9 am to 5 pm at Agnes Water only
Saturday and Sunday: 9 am to 5 pm at Kelly’s Beach and Agnes Water only
Surfing
This past week has brought more ordinary surf conditions with mostly flat and calm conditions for most of the week, although some very small, choppy waves were present on Wednesday.
But in some better news for board riders, a small, easterly pulse of groundswell did arrive yesterday morning.
This swell should hang around through today and into tomorrow, but the wave heights are not expected to be anything special – maybe around the half metre size range – so hopefully we can at least see something worth getting wet for!
Have a look around Agnes Water, Nielson Park Beach, Mon Repos and Moore Park Beach in the hope of finding a bump.
For the SUP and ocean ski paddlers chasing a downwind paddle, there may be enough wind for a south to north downwind run over the coming days and more so through the afternoons.
However for those looking for a more relaxed and gentler paddle, the beaches should be ok in the very early mornings.
Events
Good luck to the small number of local surf lifesavers who will be racing from today until Sunday at the 2024 Australian Pool Rescue Championships on the Gold Coast.
