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 along the Qld coast. The monsoon trough is active in the north and has broad areas of low pressure embedded in it. This situation should create SE winds along the Qld coast
SE Qld Weather Saturday: Based on what the charts are indicating, expect 15-20kt SE winds, easing to 10-15kts south of Cape Moreton during the day, with lighter SW/S land breezes inshore early
SE Qld Weather Sunday: Winds are expected to be 10-15kts SE, with lighter SW/S land breezes inshore early
Tides: It’s full moon on Monday night and tidal differences are getting bigger. There’ll be mid morning highs and mid afternoon lows. Click this link for precise tide times and heights
Swell & Coastal Bars: On the beaches and coastal bars there should be a 1-1.5m E/SE swell. Further offshore it looks like it’ll bigger and more SE on Saturday, but decrease to 1-1.5m on Sunday. Although the swell isn’t huge, it will be E/SE on the bars and that means, as always, care will be required when crossing. Be particularly careful on the ebb tides, when pressure waves, which can be bigger than actual swell size and break unpredictably, will form as the water runs out through the narrow bar openings
Sailing & Boating: Based on the weather predictions, there should be good wind for sailing. On Saturday, with 15-20kts SE winds forecast for offshore waters north of Cape Moreton, conditions should be very choppy to rough. South of Cape Moreton and on Moreton Bay, winds are predicted to ease to 10-15kts SE during the morning and boating conditions will improve if that happens. On Sunday, if the wind eases 10-15kts as forecast, conditions will be more workable in small boats.
As usually the case in all but extreme conditions, best cruising and anchorages will 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: After weeks of bad weather, it’s looking like conditions for offshore fishing will be best on Sunday, but you will need to be careful crossing coastal bars. Most fishing will be done on Moreton Bay and in rivers, creeks and dams. 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
Surf: There’s been waves all week on the points and bays on the northern side of the headlands at Noosa, Mooloolaba, Burleigh, Kirra, Greenmount and Rainbow Bay and with SE winds and a 1-1.5m E/SE forecast for the weekend, that should continue. Early in the mornings, if the wind is SW/S for an hour or two after dawn, it would be worth looking for beach breaks to try and escape the crowds on the points. You can check the 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 for a swim this weekend. Swim only in the patrolled areas marked by the red and yellow flags and be aware that on the ebb tides from mid morning to mid afternoon, any rips and sweep working around the inshore holes and gutters will be enhanced as the water drains off the beach. For the latest conditions, check our daily Beach Report published about 5.40 every morning
