Central QLD Forecaster Notes by Steve Shearer (issued on Fri 28 Jan)

This week and next (Jan28– Feb4)

Central QLD:  Surf building a notch this weekend with better quality swell for the exposed breaks Tues/Wed next week as tropical depression drops into the slot.

Just a few tiny waves today at the more exposed spots as high pressure ridge builds along the CQ coast. E’ly to ESE’ly Tradewinds build through the Coral Sea over the weekend with a a very broad coverage of 20knot+ winds expected.

This will see surf build into the 1-2ft range at the most exposed spots, smaller 1ft+ at other locations. There’ll be enough energy to get a surf in, with winds from the SE/ESE in the 15-20 knot range.

Surf holds at this size Sunday and then into Mon, with mid period Tradewinds swell and more localised windswell providing rideable waves through the region.

Into next week and the charts will show a low pressure system tracking in from the South Pacific with a very healthy fetch between the low and a supporting high straddling New Zealand over Sun into Mon (see below).

Low dropping into the Tasman generating E/SE swell for exposed breaks

While the southwards movement of the low is not ideal for CQ, aiming the winds more towards SEQLD and NSW, the fetch is broad enough to generate some longer period E/SE swell for the more exposed breaks on the Burnett Coast.

Expect surf to boost into the 2ft range Tues as longer period swells make landfall. Winds will start to become lighter and variable as the high pressure ridge breaks down.

Sets extend into Wed at similar sizes, becoming less frequent and easing in size during the day. Light variable N’ly winds are expected.

Longer term and another monster high moving through the Bight next week has good surf potential for the region, with a strong high pressure surge expected to build later next week. There’s a lot of dynamic moving parts including a possible low pressure system off the NSW Coast which may disrupt or delay the ridge forming so we’ll flag it for now and come back to the specifics on Mon.

Till then, have a great weekend!