Central QLD Forecaster Notes by Steve Shearer (issued on Wed 23rd Mar)

This weekend and next week (Mar23-Apr 1)

Central QLD: Flat spell lifting on Sun and waves next week

No great changes expected this week. Surf has been tiny to flat, perfect for fishing/diving and that is expected to extend into the end of the week. 

Great day to be on the reef

High pressure is weak and mobile at the moment, restricting trade-wind flows in the Coral Sea. A more stable pattern does set-up later on in the weekend as high pressure drifts towards New Zealand but the trade flows are a little weaker and more disjointed than models suggested on Mon.

That means it’ll take a little while longer before E’ly Tradewinds are able to generate any useful surf for the CQ area. Expect the flat spell to continue into the weekend with surf slowly bumping up Sat, becoming rideable more generally on Sun with 1-1.5ft surf developing.

Surf from the established trade flow in the Coral Sea is expected to persist at low levels through Mon-Wed next week although there will be some subtle ups and downs every day depending on tide and variations in the wind strengths.

Patchy but extensive trade flow generates rideable surf next week

Into the end of next week and models show the trade flow breaking down in response to a front pushing through the Tasman and a descending trough. 

That should see surf decreasing through Thurs into next weekend.

Longer term and another strong high is moving through the Bight suggesting another round of Tradewinds first week of April.

Check back Fri for an update.