Central QLD Forecaster Notes by Steve Shearer (issued on Wed 5 Jan)

This week and next (Jan5 – Jan14)

Central QLD: Small increase in size on the cards from mid next week.

Surf has declined back to tiny/flat through the region, as ex TC Seth slowly dissipates off the southern edge of the Fraser Coast.

A strong high is now slipping in underneath Tasmania and the combination of the decaying ex cyclone, developing high pressure ridge and an interior trough is creating a long, broad fetch E/NE winds extending from New Caledonia down into the Central Tasman Sea. 

Unfortunately these winds are mostly out of the CQ swell window, aimed into NSW. 

Next week looks to have better prospects although we won’t have the surf potential we saw from TC Seth. 

Tradewinds stay active through the Central Coral Sea through the end of this week, even receiving a little boost Thurs into Fri.

That should see surf at more exposed breaks get a little boost this weekend up into the 1-1.5ft range with mod E’ly winds expected. 

Surf should hover around in the just-rideable range into early next week. 

More energy is expected to boost wave heights a notch into the 1-2ft range, possibly 2ft by Thurs next week as the broad spectrum coverage of ESE winds through the Coral Sea kicks up a notch. With 20 knots of SE/ESE wind expected there’ll be some rideable waves on offer. 

Through next week, another strong high moving south of the Bight,  and a large area of tropical low pressure in the South Pacific Convergence Zone , likely between Fiji and Vanuatu will be sending E swell, primarily to SEQLD.

Most of this swell will be out of the CQ swell window but the more open breaks on the Burnett Coast should see better quality E swell through Fri/Sat week, depending on the movement of the low. 

There’s low confidence in specifics this far out so check back in on Fri as we update the outlook.