It has been another mixed week of weather across the local region, with mostly sunny skies, a quick blast of cool temperatures on Tuesday and then mild temperatures returning along with the moderate onshore winds since Wednesday.
The next few days will bring more of the same weather conditions as well, with those moderate onshore winds set to continue, along with mostly sunny skies for the weekend (after possible scattered showers through today) but temperatures will start to get cooler by Sunday and then perhaps even cooler on Monday and Tuesday morning.
Today’s winds will be from the S/SE at around 15+ knots throughout the day and then very similar once again tomorrow, just with more of a southerly direction in the early morning before it swings S/SE to E/SE later in the day.
Sunday will have an almost identical wind direction to Saturday with S to S/SE to E/SE winds but they will be slightly stronger at 15 to 20 knots.
Swimming
Swimming conditions have been much like the weather during this past week – mixed!
The mornings have been OK on those beaches sheltered from the onshore winds but from Wednesday onwards the ocean has been quite choppy and messy – particularly on those open and exposed beaches.
These conditions will be the same for today and across the weekend as well unfortunately, with moderate onshore winds forecast through until Sunday.
The mornings will be the best time for a swim though over the coming days, particularly early morning, as this is when the winds will be slightly lighter but also from a more southerly direction.
Mid to late afternoon may also be OK on those protected beaches as well with the early evening high tide time.
The best beaches for swimmers over the coming days will be Agnes Water, Hervey Bay, Nielson Park Beach and Moore Park Beach, just be careful on those more open and exposed beaches where there will also be a slight side current pushing along the beach from south to north (or right to left).
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!
Beach patrols
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
Once again, it has not been a great week of waves but having said that, there were opportunities to get out and find a few small, clean and fun waves through the early part of the week.
Wave heights have probably increased slightly since yesterday but the onshore winds have also increased to produce slightly choppy and messy conditions as well.
We are expecting the onshore winds to remain quite moderate in strength through today and across the weekend too so expect more of the same – but having said that, the early mornings may surprise with the wind direction being more southerly and the wave slightly cleaner.
Your best options will be Agnes Water, Mon Repos, Moore Park Beach and Nielson Park Beach, with early morning and mid to late afternoon perhaps being the better times.
For the SUP and ocean ski paddlers chasing a downwind paddle, you will have plenty of wind for a slick south to north run during today and across the weekend as well, so enjoy it while it lasts.
For those looking for more relaxed and gentle conditions though, maybe try the protected beaches in the very early mornings or else head to the protected inland waterways.
