Well, it has been a reasonable week of weather across the local region, with warm and humid days to start the week and some thunderstorm activity mixed in as well (although some areas scored more activity than others), and then a cooler SE wind change arriving yesterday.
Looking ahead to today and then across the weekend, the forecast is suggesting light to moderate E/SE winds, with the general trend being that they will be lighter through the mornings and edging towards being moderate through the afternoons.
There is also a chance of a shower through today but these are very unlikely across the weekend when the sky should be mostly sunny and the temperatures a little milder than they have been.
Today’s winds will be from the E/SE at around 15 knots and perhaps a little stronger through this afternoon.
Tomorrow will then bring lighter E/SE winds, with the forecast suggesting 10 knots through the morning and then increasing to 10 to 15 knots through the late afternoon.
Sunday is quite similar too, with 10 to 15 knots of E/SE winds on the forecast.
Swimming
Swimming conditions have been a little mixed during this past week with the shifting winds and varying wind intensity causing conditions to change quickly, but for the most part they have not been too bad.
As we look ahead to today and then across the weekend, the light to moderate E/SE winds will ensure the ocean is slightly choppy and wobbly for the most part, but it should certainly not be rough or messy.
Swimmers will need to be a little more cautious though, due to the shifting winds and associated water movement.
The better beaches will be those that provide some protection from the prevailing winds, so potentially Agnes Water, Nielson Park Beach, Moore Park Beach and Hervey Bay but the more easterly the wind direction, the choppier these beaches will also become.
The best times for swimmers to hit the beach will be through the early mornings, while the winds are lighter, or again around mid-afternoon when the tide is higher.
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
Weekdays (including today): 9 am to 5 pm at Kelly’s Beach and Agnes Water only.
Saturday: 9 am to 5 pm at Kelly’s Beach, Nielsen Park Beach, Oaks Beach and Agnes Water, 1 to 5 pm at Elliott Heads and Moore Park Beach.
Sunday: 9 am to 5 pm at Elliott Heads, Kelly’s Beach, Nielsen Park Beach, Oaks Beach, Moore Park Beach and Agnes Water.
Surfing
Not a lot has been happening in term of quality, rideable waves this past week and as we look ahead to the coming days, the forecast is looking slightly better but still not great.
In good news, the wave heights should increase slightly to at least enough to have some fun, but to put a downer on things, the E/SE winds are likely to provide sloppy and wobbly waves, which won’t provide the best rides.
As per usual though, keep an eye on conditions, with perhaps Saturday or Sunday early mornings, or mid-afternoons, being options to consider at your favourite local break.
Good Luck.
For the SUP and ocean ski paddlers chasing a downwind paddle, the conditions will be a little mixed for a south to north run, with moderate winds forecast but they will be E/SE in direction, so the runners will likely be coming across rather than from behind your craft.
For those seeking a more relaxed and gentler paddle, the wobbly ocean may not provide the best conditions for you either, but try the very early mornings in the hope of the winds being lighter and the ocean calmer.
Events
The iconic Coolangatta Gold is celebrating its 40 year anniversary this weekend, with this year’s event occurring on Sunday on the Gold Coast.
