Central QLD Forecaster Notes by Steve Shearer (issued on Wed 19 Jan)

This week and next (Jan19– Jan27)

Central QLD: A few small waves Fri/Sat then a period of tiny/flat surf ahead.

Quality long-lined groundswell from Ex TC Cody supplied some good surf to the regions more open ocean exposed breaks with 2-3ft sets on offer through Mon/Tues. That has now ebbed away with only  marginal surf supplying some just rideable waves at the more exposed breaks. Flat elsewhere.

A classic Summer blocking pattern is now setting up with a slow moving high drifting well south of Victoria and a series of troughs interacting with a strong high pressure ridge which has reached Central NSW and is now building into more sub-tropical regions. This ridge/trough combo is developing a broad windfield through the Central Tasman, which is also migrating northwards along the QLD coast through the f/cast period.

The ridge really starts to build along the CQ coast later Thurs, reaching peak strength of 20-30 knot winds through Friday. This should save some short period 2ft windswell build through Fri, with a chance of slightly bigger waves on the more exposed Burnett Coast breaks.

Expect that size to continue into Sat, with an easing trend in place later in the a’noon as the ridge breaks down and winds start to ease through the Central Coral Sea swell window. Size should be in the 2ft range, easing later in the day.

From Sunday light winds cover the Central Coral Sea, which spells a week or so of tiny surf, possibly rideable at the most exposed breaks through Sun/Mon, tiny to flat elsewhere. From Mon expect tiny/flat conditions to become established as weak pressure gradients became established over the Coral Sea and the tropics goes dormant for a period.

Check back Fri for an update.