News

Jun 17, 2023

Winds to ease at beaches this weekend

Well, it has been another mixed bag of weather conditions during this past week with glorious conditions and light winds across last weekend and through until Tuesday, before those strong SE winds

Well, it has been another mixed bag of weather conditions during this past week with glorious conditions and light winds across last weekend and through until Tuesday, before those strong SE winds returned on Wednesday and brought with them some showers as well.

As we look ahead to today and into the weekend, the winds will gradually start to ease over the weekend, with mild temperatures and partly cloudy skies – with just the very slight chance of a scattered shower or two.

Today’s winds will be quite moderate once again at 15 to 20 knots from the E/SE, before they then start to ease overnight.

Tomorrow will bring lighter winds in the morning, with 10 to 12 knots of S/SE winds that will then increase to around 15 knots from the E/SE during the day.

Sunday will then bring S/SE to E/SE winds at around 10 to 15 knots.

The swimming conditions during this past week have been just like the weather conditions – sensational through until Tuesday, and then pretty ordinary from Wednesday onwards, and particularly on the open and exposed beaches.

Messy and choppy conditions will continue throughout today thanks to the gusty onshore winds continuing, but they will then gradually improve across the weekend as the winds start to slowly ease.

Those open and exposed beaches will still be choppy and a little messy, but not as bad as the past few days, and there will also be a side current pushing along most beaches from right to left, so be cautious if you are swimming.

The best beaches will be those that provide some protection from the prevailing winds, so Hervey Bay and Agnes Water are likely to the better options, followed closely by Moore Park Beach and Nielson Park Beach.

The best time for a swim will be through the mornings while the winds are lighter.

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: Today and weekdays – NIL

Saturday and Sunday: 9 am to 5 pm at Kelly's Beach and Agnes Water only.

The past week has provided more clean, fun waves for local board-riders, with no shortage of fun available up until Tuesday.

The gusty onshore winds then messed things up from Wednesday, but the wave heights have still been quite OK.

The forecast for today and across the weekend is looking promising as well with plenty of waves forecast for the coming days – you will just need to get in early before the winds mess things up too much.

Beaches such as Agnes Water, Mon Repos, Moore Park Beach and Nielson Park Beach will all be worth checking out over the coming days, with early morning through until about midday being the best time of day. Good luck!

For the SUP and ocean ski paddlers, there should be plenty of opportunity for some downwind paddles (south to north) through today and across the weekend.

However, for those looking for a gentle and protected paddle, you may need to head to those protected inland waterways.

Good luck to the local surf lifesavers that will be competing in the 2023 Australian Pool Rescue (lifesaving) Championships on the Gold Coast this weekend.

The 4670 SUP Club will also be hosting its annual Clearwater Classic this weekend, with the ocean technical race being held at Elliott Heads tomorrow afternoon, and the long distance flatwater race being held in the Elliott River, starting and finishing at Riverview, on Sunday.

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