Central QLD Forecaster Notes by Steve Shearer (issued on Wed 4th Jan)

This week and next week (Jan4-Jan13)

Central QLD: Surf easing with brief window on the weekend before more tiny surf

Fun waves yesterday have declined back to tiny today with N’ly winds making a mess of most spots.

After a very slow moving synoptic pattern in the Xmas-New Years week we are now seeing some movement as the tropical low which hived off the monsoon trough now journeys into the Southern Tasman, where it will merge with a surface trough currently working it’s way north along the NSW Coast. With the low now out of the CQ swell window we will see surf ease to tiny over the short run, with Thurs and Fri less than a foot.

We may see a brief spike in swell this weekend as a low forms off the North QLD coast (see below), seeing brief flaring of SE-ESE winds along the Capricorn Coast and extending into the Coral Sea. Under current modelling we’ll expect surf to build into the 1-2ft range Sat, holding in the 2ft range Sun morning at exposed spots before the low rapidly moves away and surf eases right back.

Tropical low brings brief increase in swell this weekend before racing away

Next week sees a weaker, troughier pattern establish with light winds and no surf. Perfect for days on the reef.

By Fri next week models are showing signs of a potential low forming off the CQ coast, with some surf potential on the radar into the second weekend of Jan. It’s too early to have any confidence in specifics so check back Fri and we’ll see how it’s shaping up.