Gold & Sunshine Coast Report Issued at 4.30pm 21 January

Wind:

Light NW/N early, becoming 15kts N/NE during the morning and freshening to 20-25kts this afternoon

Swell:

0.5-1m E/NE

Tides:

Low 2.45am & 4.15pm … High 9.45am

Best waves:

In NW/NE winds, the best waves will be beach breaks on the south side of headlands and Southport Spit, particularly this morning while the winds are light and the tide is making

Best Beaches:

The best time for a swim today will be this morning, while the winds are light and the tide is making. Later in the day, when the N/NE wind freshens, the best beaches will be Kings at Caloundra and Southport Spit to Mermaid Beach.

 We are 2 days past the new moon and there’s big daytime high tides, so be sure to swim in the patrolled areas marked by the red and yellow flags, particularly from late morning through the afternoon when the extra volume of water draining off the beach will enhance rips and sweep working around the inshore holes and gutters.

If you are worried about stingers, check along the tide line to see if any have been washed ashore, look for signs in the patrolled areas, or ask the lifeguard