Issued at 5pm 14th March 2024 for Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th March 2024

Charts: The charts and weather models are indicating that this weekend, a high will be in the Tasman Sea east of Bass Strait extending a ridge up the Qld coast and a low well east of Brisbane. This set up should create fresh to strong SE winds and showers along the Qld Coast. On Sunday, the high is forecast to remain in much the same position in the Tasman Sea and the low move further east. If this happens, the gradient will open up and winds should ease a bit.

SE Qld Weather Saturday: Based on that situation, for SE Qld, expect 20-30kts SE winds in offshore waters easing to 15-25kts in offshore waters south of Cape Moreton and on Moreton Bay, during the day. Coastal showers are expected

SE Qld Weather Sunday: In offshore waters and on Moreton Bay, winds should be 15-25kts SE in the morning, tending E/SE at 15-20kts during the day. Once again expect coastal showers

Tides: It’s first quarter, or half way up to full moon on Sunday night and tidal differences are smaller than they were earlier this week, when we were closer to the new moon. This weekend, the night time high tides will be bigger than the day time highs and there’ll be mid morning lows and mid afternoon highs. Click this link for precise tide times and heights

Swell & Coastal Bars: There’s been a 2-3m Easterly swell all week. It should be smaller on the weekend, and more E/SE, but still big enough to make crossing coastal bars potentially dangerous and bar crossings are not recommended

Sailing & Boating: Based on the weather predictions, there should be good wind for sailing and boating conditions in offshore and open waters should be very choppy to rough for small boats on Saturday, improving a bit on Sunday south of Cape Moreton and on Moreton Bay if the winds ease as expected

The best and safest cruising and anchorages will once again be in the more sheltered waters in the rivers and creeks and from Caloundra to Donnybrook in Pumicestone Passage and the southern bay from Peel Island to the northern parts of Southport Broadwater

Fishing: There wasn’t much fishing done this week due to strong SE winds, rough seas and a big swell.  Any fishing done was in very sheltered waters in estuaries, rivers, creeks and dams. Given the weather and swell forecasts, once again, the best, safest and most enjoyable fishing will be in those sheltered waters. You can get the latest SE Qld Fishing Report published every Thursday afternoon to help you plan your weekend fishing

Surf: The swell is forecast to be about 2m E/SE on the open beaches and smaller in the bays on the northern side of the headlands at Noosa, Mooloolaba, Burleigh, Kirra, Greenmount and Rainbow Bay. In the forecast SE and E/SE winds, those places will have the cleanest conditions. There’ll be a lot of water pushing around and it won’t be suitable for beginners or kids. For the latest conditions, check our daily Surf Report published about 5.40 every morning

Beach: In the forecast conditions, the bays on the north side of the headlands at Noosa, Mooloolaba, Burleigh, Kirra, Greenmount and Rainbow Bay will be the most pleasant and safest beaches this weekend, but there will be a lot of water movement, so keep a watchful eye on friends and kids and swim only 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

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