Gold & Sunshine Coast Report issued at 5.50am Sunday 21st April 2024

Weather Forecast: The weather situation is complex. There’s a high pressure system centred near Adelaide, which is moving slowly East and extending a ridge up the Qld Coast. There’s a trough off the coast, with a low predicted form in it east of the Central Coast and the development of that low will have a bearing on how strong the wind is today. Added to this mix, is cold air in the upper atmosphere which is triggering showers, rain periods and the chance of storms, which can cause variations in wind speed and direction.

Based on those variables, today’s forecast is cloudy with a 95% chance of showers and rain and the chance of storms. The top temperatures should be 22° on the Gold Coast and 21° on the Sunshine Coast

Wind Forecast: Light S/SW early, forecast to become 10-15kts S/SE this morning, tending SE during the day and freshening to 15kts plus. Please be aware that due to the complexity of the weather situation this forecast may not be accurate

Swell: 0.75-1m Easterly on the Gold Coast. 1m E/SE on the Sunshine Coast

Tides: Mooloolaba: High @ 6.30am & 7.05pm … Low @ 12.50pm

Snapper Rocks: High @ 6.17am & 6.53pm … Low @ 12.37pm

Best waves: With light to moderate S/SW winds early, look for waves on the points and beach breaks on the open beaches from Wurtulla to Caloundra and Tugun to Coolangatta. If the wind swings SE as predicted, the points will be the best options. They’ll be a bit full this morning on the high tide, but improve as the tide falls off.

Best Beaches: It looks like being a cloudy day, with a very high chance of showers and rain and the chance of storms, so not great beach weather. In the forecast SE winds, the bays on the north side of the headlands at Noosa, Burleigh, Kirra, Greenmount and Rainbow Bay will be the best beaches.

It will be full moon on Tuesday night and tidal differences are increasing. There’s inshore holes and gutters along the beaches, particularly along the open stretches and on the morning ebb tide, any rips and sweep working around those holes and gutters will be enhanced as the increased volume of water drains off the beach, so swim in the patrolled areas marked by the red and yellow flags

It’s the last day of the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, which are being held between Maroochydore and Mooloolaba. Unless you want to watch the competition, it might be best to avoid those beaches as there’s be a lot going on and parking will be more difficult than usual

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