Central QLD Forecaster Notes by Steve Shearer (issued on Wed 11th Jan)

This week and next week (Jan11-Jan19)

Central QLD: Tiny/flat this week with a slight increase this weekend and plenty of rideable surf next week

An insipid Summer blocking pattern is now setting up as a weak high (1019 hPa) moves East of Tasmania and becomes semi-stationary in the Central/Lower Tasman. That will see a short/medium term pattern of onshore winds and small summer surf becoming established over the weekend as weak Tradewinds set up in the Coral Sea. Tradewinds next week and a monsoonal low suggest plenty of E swell.

Expect tiny/flat surf to continue through Thurs/Fri with light winds.

Over the weekend a broad but weak tradewind flow will see surf start to climb into the 1ft (just rideable) size range and maintain and build a notch into Sunday. 

Into next week and we should see a further increase in size as a monsoonal low hovers about the North QLD coast- although it’s potential to form a TC now looks diminished. 

Tradewinds expected to increase in CQ swell window next week with plenty of rideable surf

The low tightens the pressure gradient through the CQ swell window and leads to increased SE-ESE winds through the f/cast region. That should see building surf as early as Mon, into the 2ft range, with bigger surf expected in the 3ft range through Tues/Wed with fresh SE-ESE winds.

Surf should hold through the end of next week, and size will very much depend on the movement of the monsoonal low. If the low moves into the Coral Sea and intensifies (or undergoes cyclogenesis) we could see much more solid surf into next weekend or early week 23/1.

Check back Fri and we’ll see how those prospects are shaping up.