Central QLD Forecaster Notes by Steve Shearer (updated on Wed 19th April)

This week and next week (Apr19-Apr28)

Central QLD: Extended surf pattern ahead

Fun waves have become established across the region with plenty more to come, getting sizey next week.

A few fun ones on the right tide

We still have the trough block pattern in place with the South Pacific low centre contracting away to the NE while a secondary low centre retrogrades back into he Tasman Sea. An anchoring high, is being shunted away with a trough and front expected tomorrow before a new dominant high moves in from the Bight.

Small surf from the E/SE is being generated by the retreating South Pacific low and that will hold size in the 1-1.5ft range, augmented by small amounts of local SE windswell.

Next week looks much juicier.

The blocking trough pattern breaks down next week as a very strong high moves into the Tasman with a very firm ridge up along the sub-tropical QLD coast ( the so-called Quidge). 

Fresh SE winds are on the menu Mon, with a strong surge in SE winds through the Southern Coral Sea rapidly building wave heights to 1-2ft.

Muscular tradewind fetch in the Coral Sea next week brings plenty of surf for CQ

By Tuesday the high will be in the centre of the Tasman with a classic blocking signature- SE winds in the sub-tropics, E-NE winds from the Hunter southwards. 

That in itself will see stacks of sizey trade swell through next week, likely holding in the 2-3ft range, with bigger sets possible Thurs.

Check back Fri and we’ll see how it’s shaping up.