This Labour Day long weekend, Craig Holden warns swimmers to expect choppy and messy conditions with more moderate to strong winds over the coming days.
Weather
Well, it was another fantastic week of weather across the local region, with light winds, sunny skies and mild temperatures up until about Wednesday – but then things changed quickly during the day yesterday when those gusty SE winds arrived, and they look likely to persist at least through until Sunday.
Looking ahead to another long weekend, the forecast is suggesting more moderate to strong SE winds, slightly cooler temperatures, partly overcast skies, and the chance of showers from today until Monday – so keep an eye on the sky when planning your trip to the beach!
Today’s winds will be from the S/SE tat 15 to 20 knots this morning before they swing from the E/SE this afternoon and increase to 20+ knots.
Tomorrow’s forecast suggests more moderate to strong winds with 20 to 25 knots of E/SE winds before Sunday brings only a slight drop in wind speed with 15 to 20 knots of E/SE winds forecast.
Monday will then hopefully bring a slightly larger drop in wind speed with the forecast saying 15+ knots of S/S to E/SE winds.
Swimming
Swimming conditions were absolutely fantastic this past week up until Wednesday – but then the choppy and messy conditions started to develop on the open and exposed beaches through yesterday as those SE winds increased.
Unfortunately, with the wind forecast suggesting more moderate to strong winds over the coming days, we can expect more of the same across the long weekend with choppy and messy conditions the norm – especially on the open and exposed beaches where there will also be a side sweep pushing from right to left.
The best beaches for swimmers over the coming days will be those that offer some protection from these onshore winds – so Hervey Bay will be the best followed by Agnes Water (adjacent to the headland).
Locally, beaches such as Nielson Park Beach and Moore Park will be slightly better options.
The best time for a swim will be through the early mornings while the winds are lighter (but it will be low tide).
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!
Beach patrols
Today – 9 am to 5 pm at Kelly’s Beach, Nielson Park, Oaks Beach and Agnes Water; 1 pm to 5 pm at Elliott Heads and Moore Park Beach
Saturday – 9 am to 5 pm at Kelly’s Beach, Nielson Park, 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, Oaks Beach, Moore Park Beach and Agnes Water
Weekdays (from Tuesday) – 9 am to 5 pm at Agnes Water only
Surfing
Local board-riders have not been greeted with any wave action at all this past week, although the conditions have been calm and glassy, the wave heights have been tiny and not even really suited to the longboards or SUP’s.
But with the onshore winds picking up through yesterday and expected to continue across the next three to four days, we should start to see an increase in wave heights across our local beaches through today.
Conditions will be messy and choppy, but the wave heights should be fun-sized – the trick will be to find the cleanest conditions at beaches that give some protection from the wind.
Agnes Water will be the best pick but Nielson Park Beach, Mon Repos and Moore Park Beach will also be worth a look too.
Try the early mornings or again around midday to mid-afternoon.
Good Luck.
For the SUP and Ocean Ski paddlers there will be plenty of wind about for some slick south to north downwind paddles, but for those chasing a more relaxed and gentler paddle, you will need to head to the protected inland waterways, or get on the ocean in the very early mornings before the winds pick-up!
Events
This weekend signifies the last weekend of volunteer Beach Patrols for the 2024/25 Surf Lifesaving Season.
The volunteer surf lifesavers will pull down the red and yellow flags for the last time this season at 5 pm on Monday 5 May.
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