Well, it has been a stinker of a week in terms of how hot it has been, but this has also provided great beach conditions for the most part as well – at least until those NW winds kicked-in yesterday anyway!
Now, looking ahead to today and across the weekend, we can expect some mixed conditions, with sunny skies and light variable winds today, followed by the chance of showers across the weekend, more light winds tomorrow, but then strengthening winds on Sunday.
The winds this morning will be light at around 10 knots from the S/SW to S/SE before they increase to 10 to 15 knots through the afternoon and swing from the E/NE to N/NE.
Tomorrow will then bring S/SE to E/SE winds at only around 10 knots with just the chance of a slight increase through the afternoon.
Sunday, however, is forecast to bring stronger winds, with the forecast suggesting 15 to 20 knots of S/SE to E/SE winds.
Swimming
Swimming conditions have been sensational for the most part this week, with a couple of superb swimming days through the early part of this week but yesterday did get a little choppy and messy on those beaches exposed to the NW winds.
As we look ahead now to today and then across the weekend, we look set for a few mixed days of swimming conditions based on those wind forecasts mentioned above.
Both today and tomorrow should provide pretty good swimming conditions, particularly through the mornings while the winds remain lighter, before the afternoons bring slightly choppier conditions.
Sunday will then bring choppy and messy conditions across most beaches, but particularly on those that are exposed to the strengthening SE winds, and there will also be a side sweep pushing to the north on the open beaches as well.
The best beaches for swimmers over the coming days will be Agnes Water, Hervey Bay, Nielson Park and Moore Park, BUT both Elliott Heads and Kelly’s Beach will be the picks this afternoon.
The best time for a swim will be from mid-morning through until the early afternoon.
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 – 9 am to 5 pm at Elliott Heads, Kelly’s Beach, Nielson Park, Oaks Beach, Moore Park Beach and Agnes Water, plus a rove lifeguard in the Bundaberg Region.
Weekends and public holidays – 9 am to 5 pm at Elliott Heads, Kelly’s Beach, Nielson Park, Oaks Beach, Moore Park Beach and Agnes Water, plus a rove lifeguard in the Bundaberg Region.
Note: These are minimum patrol times – some beaches may have longer hours.
Surfing
Once again, the local beaches have been mostly devoid of waves, or at least any ridable waves, for most of the past week as mostly gentle and calm conditions were the norm – although yesterday did whip up some messy northerly waves.
Looking ahead to the coming days, I would suggest that early this morning could be worth a sneaky look for some small but clean, residual swell from yesterday.
After that though, you may have to wait until Sunday before the chance of finding a wave increases again, but conditions will be a little messy due to the moderate SE winds.
Kelly’s Beach may well be one of the better options this morning, and then by Sunday, try Agnes Water, Nielson Park, Mon Repos and Moore Park.
For the SUP and Ocean Ski paddlers chasing a downwind paddle, there won’t be a huge amount of wind about until Sunday, so you may have to wait until then for a slick south to north run.
But for those chasing a more relaxed and gentler paddle, hit the beaches through this morning and again tomorrow morning for more gentle conditions before things get choppy on Sunday.
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