Issued at 4:45pm 16th May for 18th & 19th May 2024

Charts: The charts are indicating that on Saturday and Sunday, there’ll be a large high pressure system centred in the Great Australian Bight, extending a ridge along the Qld Coast, which will generate SW/SE winds along the southern Qld Coast. A trough with a low embedded in it is off the NSW coast and the combination of the two systems will keep the winds fresh to strong for the weekend

SE Qld Weather Outlook: Based on what the charts are showing, in offshore waters, it looks like there’s going to be fresh Southerly winds on Saturday morning, freshening to strong in the afternoon and staying that way on Sunday. Showers and possibly storms are also likely.

On Moreton Bay, it should be mostly sunny both days and the winds should be light S/SW early, becoming fresh SW/SE during the days

It should be noted that things can change, so it’s always a good idea to check the latest forecasts before enjoying coastal activities

Tides & Moon: It was first quarter or half moon up last night. As we approach the full moon next Thursday night, tidal differences will increase over the next week. On the weekend, at Brisbane Bar cutting at the mouth of the Brisbane River, there’ll be early morning and evening highs and lows in the middle of day. Click this link for precise tide times and heights at various locations

Swell & Coastal Bars: Expect the swell on the coastal bars to be about 1m E/SE with bigger set waves. Given the forecasts, it’s not looking good for offshore boating in small boats, but if you do cross a coastal bar, take care, particularly on the ebb tides, when the water running out through narrow bar channels can create pressure waves, which are bigger than swell size and break unpredictably

Sailing & Boating: Based on the weather predictions, it’s not looking good for safe or comfortable boating in small boats in offshore waters.

On Moreton Bay, although there should be plenty of wind for sailing, it should be choppy to rough in the open parts of the bay, particularly in the afternoon when it will be wind against tide. The best cruising and anchorages will be in the sheltered waters from Caloundra to Donnybrook in Pumicestone Passage, the southern bay from Peel Island to the northern parts of Southport Broadwater and in the rivers and creeks.

Fishing: Based on the weather predictions, it looks like it’ll be too rough to fish in offshore waters and not very comfortable in the open parts of Moreton, with the best conditions in the sheltered waters in Pumicestone Passage, in the southern bay and the rivers and creeks. To help you plan your weekend angling, the latest SE Qld Fishing Report was published on the Coastwatch web site this afternoon

Surf: Based on the weather and swell predictions, expect the swell to be about 1m E/SE, with the odd bigger one on the northern ends of the Gold and Sunshine Coasts and along the Tweed Coast. It should be smaller in the bays on the northern side of the headlands.  Given the forecast for SW/SE winds, the cleanest waves will be on the points and in those bays, but will be crowded. If the wind is light S/SW early in the mornings as predicted, there should be some less crowded beach breaks between Maroochydore and Caloundra and Currumbin to Coolangatta. You can check the latest surf conditions with the daily Surf Report published about 5.45 every morning

Beach: The weather outlook indicates it should be mostly, with cool fresh SW/SE winds and the bays on the northern side of the headlands at Noosa, Mooloolaba, Burleigh, Kirra, Greenmount and Rainbow Bay will offer the best shelter from those winds to be. It’ll be windier along the open stretches of beach and there’s inshore holes and gutters along them. On the ebb tides, any rips working around those features will be enhanced as the water drains off the beach, so swim in the patrolled areas marked by the red and yellow flags. For the latest beach conditions, check our daily Beach Report published about 5.40 every morning

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