Central QLD Forecaster Notes by Steve Shearer (issued on Fri 10th March)

This weekend and next week (Mar17-Mar24)

Central QLD: Extended run of fun surf ahead.

End of the flat spell is now in sight.

In the lower Coral Sea and extending out into the South Pacific we have a long, disjointed tradewind fetch which will supply some small E swell this weekend with more size expected next week. Expect surf to build into the 1-2ft range Sat, holding Sun with mod SE-ESE winds.

All eyes out to the Pacific swell window next week with a typical late Summer/early Autumn pattern setting up. Low pressure centres well to the East of Fiji (near American Samoa), west of Fiji and NW of New Caledonia will all chug away on a long tradewind belt setting up presently and enhanced by a dominant high pressure cell moving SE of Tasmania early next week. 

With tradewinds in the Coral Sea (see below) we’ll see size build into the 2-3ft range through Mon into Tues and from there maintain a fun sized E-ESE swell regime in the 2ft+ range right through next week.

Healthy coverage of tradewinds in the Coral Sea

Also on the radar next week we’ll be watching a low pressure system in the Coral Sea which has been lingering for days as a diffuse system. There looks to be more organisation later next week, possibly with a S-SE recurvature if the system intensifies into a tropical cyclone.

That's a long way away and a few things still have to go right before it becomes a swell source our region- but we’ll keep tabs on it and see how it’s shaping up on Mon morning.

Have a great weekend and seeya then!