COASTAL WEATHER OUTLOOK for Qld — April 17th, 18th, 19th

Southerly Change Incoming, But Still a Good Opportunity to Get Out on the Water

April 17th, 18th, 19th 2026 — Recorded 2:30pm. Issued 4:30pm, April 16th.

By Josh Toohey, Coastwatch

While this weekend may not quite match the “cracker” conditions of last week, it’s still shaping up as a solid opportunity to enjoy the water—especially within protected waterways across Southeast Queensland, including Moreton Bay, the Gold Coast, and areas further north such as the Wide Bay and Fraser Coast. A southerly change will move through, but conditions ease quickly, leaving plenty of windows to get outside.

Friday: Winds Strengthening Ahead of Change

Friday will see conditions begin to shift as a weather system approaches.

• Winds: Strong southerlies developing through the afternoon and evening, increasing to 30–40 km/h (20–25 knots) along the coast.
• Conditions: While not extreme, it will be noticeably breezier, particularly in exposed coastal areas.
• Best spots: More sheltered waterways remain manageable, though offshore conditions will be less favourable later in the day.

Saturday: Warm but Windy Early

Saturday brings the most dynamic weather of the weekend.

• Southerly change: Expected during the morning hours, with the strongest winds occurring early.
• Winds: Offshore areas, especially along the New South Wales coast, may see gusts up to 50 km/h (near 30 knots) early, easing to 20–25 knots by late morning.
• Afternoon trend: Winds turn more southeasterly and continue to weaken through the afternoon, with gusts around 30 km/h (15–20 knots.)
• Temperatures: A warm day, particularly inland and around Brisbane, where temperatures are expected to reach 31–32°C.

Although it starts out windy and slightly cooler after the change, conditions steadily improve, and seas begin to drop. Protected waterways such as Moreton Bay, Tangalooma, and areas closer to shore will be the pick. With warm air and water temperatures, it’s a great day for swimming and casual boating once winds ease.

Sunday: Calmer and Comfortable

Sunday is the most settled day of the weekend overall.

• Winds: Light to moderate at 20–25 km/h (10–15 knots) along much of the Southeast Queensland coast.
• Conditions: Some lingering breeze along the northeastern New South Wales coastline early, but calm conditions dominate protected areas.
• Water: Slightly cooler than Saturday, but still very comfortable.

Sea surface temperatures are currently around 2°C above average, keeping the water pleasantly warm for this time of year. Fishing conditions also remain favourable, with plenty of activity expected.

Tides

Tides across Southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales follow a typical pattern, with low tides early morning, high tides late morning to early afternoon, a second low in the evening, and another high around 10 pm. Visit our tide and moon pages for your location on our detailed weather pages.

The Weekend Outlook

• Best day for calm conditions: Sunday
• Warmest and most summery feel: Saturday
• Ideal locations: Protected waterways, bays, and inshore coastal areas

Enjoy the water, and make the most of these weekends with warmer conditions while they last.

Stay safe and weather‑aware at all times. Keep informed and updated with the latest forecasts and coastal observations for your local areas. More weather information is available over on our weather pages.

Don’t destroy what you came to enjoy!

BEACH SIGNS

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