Central QLD Forecaster Notes by Steve Shearer (issued on Mon 3 Jan)

This week and next (Jan3 – Jan14)

Central QLD: Ankle snappers expected until early next week when more potential surf is on the cards.

Plenty of great waves over the New Years weekend as TC Seth tracked parallel to the QLD coast,  right through the CQ/Capricornia swell window. That saw surf from 2-3ft on the northern parts of the CQ region up to 3-4ft at more exposed Burnett coast breaks. 

Swell has declined back to tiny now as the system tracked past the swell window and is expected to remain tiny for the rest of the week as the remnants of TC Seth slowly dissipate off the SEQLD coast.

More action in the tropics next week. Later this week another tropical low is expected to form in the South Pacific- possibly between Fiji and Vanuatu ( see below). That has swell generating potential in and of itself depending on how it moves into the swell window. A long cradling fetch of E/SE Tradewinds forms in that general region, which is likely to be a more reliable swell producer, especially for the more exposed breaks on the Burnett coast.

Another strong, dominant high tracking well south of the Bight is likely to see SE winds become re-established along the sub-tropical/tropical coastline early next week. This ridge, will start to lift wave heights up into the surfable range by Tues. Nothing major but into the knee-waist high range, extending into Wed and Thursday.

Some models suggest a tropical low or cyclone forming off the North QLD coast later next week which has much greater surf potential for the CQ region into the medium term. Stay tuned for updates Wed and Fri as we assess these development.