Charts: The charts and weather models are indicating that there’ll be a big high in the Tasman Sea extending a ridge along the Qld Coast. A trough is expected to develop along the southern Qld Coast, which in conjunction with the moist onshore air feed from the high, will trigger showers, rain and storms and some falls could be heavy
SE Qld Weather Outlook: Based on what the charts are indicating, expect frequent showers, rain and storms. Wind speed and direction will be hard to predict accurately due to variations caused by the trough and rain, but basically it looks like being 10-15kts NE on Saturday and 10kts reaching 15kts at times NW/NE on Sunday
Tides & Moon: It will be new moon next Tuesday night and over the next week tidal differences will increase. On the weekend, there’ll be morning highs and afternoon lows. Click this link for precise tide times and heights
Swell & Coastal Bars: The swell has been very small for the past few days. There’s nothing on the charts indicating a big increase and it should be about 1m E/NE on the weekend on the beaches and coastal bars. Further offshore it could be a bit bigger. Despite the prediction of a small swell, crossing bars always requires caution. Be particularly careful on the ebb tides, when pressure waves, which can be bigger than actual swell size and break unpredictably, can form as the large volume of water that comes with the big morning high tides runs out through the narrow bar openings.
Pic below is Noosa Bar on Wednesday from Fishing Noosa
Sailing & Boating: Based on the weather predictions of frequent showers and storms, you better take your wet weather gear. Also be aware that there’s always the chance of strong wind squalls in storms and conditions can get nasty very quickly. There should be enough wind for sailing and boating conditions in offshore and open waters should be choppy, but be aware that with wind speed and direction fluctuations due to the predicted rain, conditions could vary. Along the western side of Moreton and North Stradbroke Islands, from Caloundra to Donnybrook in Pumicestone Passage and the southern bay from Peel Island to the northern parts of Southport Broadwater, will be best for family boating
Fishing: If the weather predictions are right, it’s looking like conditions for offshore fishing will be workable in small boats, but as mentioned, keep an eye out for approaching storms, when things could turn nasty. It should be a bit choppy in the open parts of Moreton Bay, particularly as the big tides ebb during the morning into the NE or N/NE winds and the more sheltered waters in Pumicestone Passage and the southern bay, will be best. If we get a lot of rain, there could be a lot of freshwater run off and if you are fishing the rivers and creeks, around the mouth where the cleaner water pushes in on the flood tides will probably get the best results. To help you plan your weekend angling, the latest SE Qld Fishing Report was published on the Coastwatch web site this afternoon, as it is every Thursday afternoon.
Pic below from David Granville from Caloundra Fishing World with a nice spanish mackerel caught off Caloundra on Tuesday
Surf: There hasn’t been much doing for surfers for the past few days and the outlook for the weekend is much the same, although the tiny E/NE swell may increase a bit. If the winds are NE or N/E as predicted, the best options will be beach breaks on the south side of headlands and Southport Spit. You can check the latest surf conditions with the daily Surf Report published about 5.40 every morning
Beach: If it rains as much as predicted it’s not going to be a great weekend for beach goers. Be aware that with the big tidal differences, there’ll be a lot more water than usual draining off the beach on the morning ebb tides, so make sure you swim in the patrolled areas marked by the red and yellow flags. For the latest conditions, check our daily Beach Report published about 5.40 every morning
