Well, we have seen a change in the weather this past week, with slightly cooler temperatures arriving along with a SE wind change, bringing relief from the humidity and some patchy showers/rain as well.
This weather pattern should continue for the coming days, with maximum temperatures expected to hit 26 to 28 degrees, along with the continuing chance of showers (more so today, but still a chance across the weekend too) and moderate onshore winds.
The winds will remain quite constant for at least the next three days, with the E/SE winds now set-in, and they will remain quite moderate and gusty.
Today will bring around 15 knots of E/ES winds this morning before they increase to 15 to 20 knots through this afternoon.
Tomorrow will then be slightly windier early with around 20 knots of E/SE winds forecast for almost the entire day before Sunday brings around 15 knots of E/SE winds early in the morning, but these will also increase to 15 to 20 knots through the afternoon.
Swimming
Swimming conditions were fantastic on Monday and Tuesday this week, but they have soon changed to become choppy and wobbly with the arrival of these E/SE winds since Wednesday.
These moderate E/SE winds are with us for at least the next few days, so we can expect mostly choppy and messy conditions across most beaches, and particularly on those open and exposed beaches where there will also be a side sweep pushing from south to north (right to left).
Beaches that provide some protection from these E/SE winds will be the better options for swimmers, so I would suggest Hervey Bay and Agnes Water as the better options, or else Nielson Park Beach and Moore Park Beaches locally.
Hit the beaches through the early mornings while the winds are lighter, or else from early to mid-afternoon to grab the hide tide conditions.
Please check with the 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!
Saturday: 9 am to 5 pm at Kelly’s Beach, Nielsen Park Beach, Oaks Beach and Agnes Water only, 1 to 5 pm at Elliott Heads and Moore Park Beach
Sunday: 9 am to 5 pm at Elliott Heads, Kelly’s Beach, Nieson Park Beach, Oaks Beach, Moore Park Beach and Agnes Water
Weekdays (including today): 9 am to 5 pm at Kelly’s Beach and Agnes Water only
Surfing
The surf conditions have not been great yet again at the start of this week, but at least the E/SE winds have brought about some increases in wave heights since about Wednesday – although the waves have been quite wind-affected.
The coming days should bring a further slight increase in wave heights but they will still be messy and choppy unless you can escape the onshore winds.
Plenty of options for today and then across the weekend, provided you don’t mind some wobble and mess on the waves, so check out Agnes Water, Nielson Park Beach, Mon Repos or Moore Park for the best results.
For the SUP and Ocean Ski paddlers chasing a downwind paddle, there should be enough wind for a south to north run, but the ocean will be quite mixed and sloppy due to the E/SE winds.
For those chasing a more relaxed and gentler paddle though, you will need to head to the protected inland waterways across the weekend as the ocean will very sloppy and wobbly.
Events
A Junior Surf Lifesaving Carnival is being held at Nielson Park Beach on Sunday, commencing at 9am.
Good luck to all local junior surf lifesavers competing.
Last week’s beach report: Wind change to bring relief from humidity
