Central QLD Forecaster Notes by Steve Shearer (issued on Mon 14th Mar)

This week and next week (Mar14-Mar25)

Central QLD: Fun waves most days this week with Tradewinds easing into next week

Small peelers to have fun in

The current high cell in the Tasman has a trough of low pressure perched atop it, maintaining an E’ly to SE’ly fetch at a southerly latitude- roughly due East of Sydney (see below). A stronger high at at even more Southerly latitude is South-west of Tasmania and tracking into the lower Tasman to replace the current high cell. This will reinforce the SE’ly fetch through most of the Central Coral Sea into next week.

Compared to a classic tradewind fetch it doesn’t extend out towards New Caledonia as far, it’s more concentrated along the QLD coast ad adjacent coastal waters. That constrains the swell generating potential of the winds. The sheer longevity of the wind field maintain a rideable signal of surf for most days this week.

SE tradewinds adjacent to CQ coast maintain rideable surf this week

Tradewinds do fluctuate day to day leading to subtle ups and downs in wave heights but broad coverage of SE winds through the Coral Sea should hold rideable surf in the 1-2ft range through Tues-Thurs. 

Winds ease a bit then, leading to a decline in surf, back to the 0.5-1.5ft range into Fri  and the weekend.

Further weakening is expected next week, leading to surf becoming marginal in size through next week, although it’s unlikely to go flat and may remain just rideable for big boards at exposed locations.

For now, there’s plenty of rideable waves for the next few days.

Check back Wed for an update.