Well, it has been a mixed week of weather conditions across the local region with mostly sunny skies and mild temperatures, but those gusty onshore SE winds have really kicked in over the past few days, with Wednesday in particular being a very windy day.
There is good news but as we head into the long weekend, with winds set to ease today, before they turn northerly across the weekend, and the maximum temperatures start to climb towards 30 degrees as well!
Today’s winds will be from the E/SE this morning at around 10 to 15 knots before they swing more from the E/NE during this afternoon.
The winds will then maintain a northerly direction across the next three days as they become moderate to strong through the afternoons tomorrow and Sunday.
Tomorrow will bring N/NE winds at 10 to 15 knots through the morning but then increase to 15+ knots through the late afternoon.
Sunday will then bring slightly stronger N/NW winds at 15 to 20 knots, whilst Monday will be slightly less windy with N/NW winds at around 10 to 15 knots.
Swimming: The start of this week brought good swimming conditions across the local beaches, but this changed quickly by Tuesday afternoon and right through until yesterday as those SE winds increased and brought choppy and messy conditions to those open and exposed beaches.
These winds will ease through today and bring better conditions for swimmers, particularly through this morning, but then when the weekend arrives so will the northerly winds – so those beaches that are exposed to the northerly winds will become a little more choppy, together with a side sweep pushing from north to south as well.
For the best conditions over the long weekend, hit the beaches any time from early to mid-morning and through until about midday.
For today only, the best spots for swimmers will be Nielson Park, Hervey Bay, Moore Park Beach and Agnes Water, but then once the northerly winds kick-in for the weekend, Elliott Heads and Kelly’s Beach will be by far the better swimming beaches.
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: 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 (including Today – 9 am to 5 pm at Kelly’s Beach and Agnes Water only)
Surfing: This past week has seen moments of waves worth getting wet to enjoy, mixed in with moments of windy, blown-out, waves as well.
The early mornings have been the go this past week while the winds have been lighter and offshore.
As we look ahead now though, this morning may provide a glimmer of hope for local surfers as the wind eases and provides a few cleaner waves at locations such as Agnes Water, Nielson Park, Mon Repos and Moore Park.
For the weekend however, you may need to think about Kelly’s Beach and Elliott Heads, or a drive to Double Island Point, if you want to escape the northerly winds and find a small, clean wave. Good luck.
For the SUP and ocean ski paddlers chasing a downwind paddle, there should be plenty of northerly winds about across the weekend for some slick north to south runs, but for those chasing a gentler and milder ocean paddle across the weekend, you will need to try your luck at protected locations such as Kelly’s Beach or Elliott Heads.
Events: Nil.
