Central QLD Forecaster Notes by Steve Shearer (updated on Fri Jan 31st)

This weekend and next week (Jan 29-Feb7)

Central QLD: Plenty of surf days ahead with some ups and downs

Fun waves continue as tropics comes to life.

Lots of fun waves yet to come

Modest high pressure moves into the Tasman tomorrow, activating a ridge up the NSW/QLD coast and bringing SE-E/SE winds. An active monsoon trough with various low pressure centres is anchoring a trade-wind fetch through the Coral Sea and extending out into the South Pacific which will see plenty of surf in the CQ region. The tropical low off the NQ coast should bring a peak in E swell Sat, easing back a notch Sun.

Into next week and lots more surf to come with high pressure in the Tasman and low pressure centres near New Caledonia and in the South Pacific slot, with a healthy E’ly tradewind fetch extending across most of the Central and Southern Coral Seas. We’ll discount the South Pacific low as it slides off to the SE quickly. 

Trades and tropical lows bring surf

The New Caledonia low and trade fetch will be active through next week, although there is still model variance over eventual outcomes. 

Either way we’ll see fun surf most of next week, easing late in the week.

More tropical low-pressure development looks likely into the end of next week with no major systems expected under current modelling. 

We’ll see how that looks on Mon.

Until then, have a great weekend!