Central QLD Forecaster Notes by Steve Shearer (issued on Mon 21st Mar)

This weekend and next week (Mar21-Apr 1)

Central QLD: Tiny/flat surf until the weekend

The current low in the Tasman has been slow moving over the last 36hrs, and in conjunction with a 1027 hPa high which is sliding SE below New Zealand, has maintained a reasonable fetch of S/SE winds through the Central and Eastern Tasman. This fetch is outside the CQ swell window, being aimed at NSW and SEQLD, so we’ve seen surf ease back to tiny levels in CQ.

That story continues through the week, with a breakdown of Tradewinds in the Coral Sea and light/variable winds. Great fishing weather for the reef, bad for surf. 

By the weekend a new high pressure ridge is expected to build along the coast and that should see a return of rideable waves by Sat, with surf in the 1-1.5ft range, extending into Sun with moderate SE winds.

Surf then holds into Mon before the ridge breaks down and surf eases back to tiny levels on Tues and through most of next week as a series of cold fronts push into the Tasman, displacing the strong high pressure cells that have maintained trade flows through the Summer.

Check back Wed for the latest update.