South-east Queensland and Northern NSW Surf Forecast by James Casey (issued Wednesday 19th May)

Best Days: Easing S swell south of border Thursday, late Tuesday/Wednesday onwards with E swell

Outlook:

• S Swell to fade into Thursday lingering around 3-4ft early smaller late (south of border)
• SE QLD will remain around 2ft as limited swell gets around the corner, relying moe on an E/SE windswell
• Another smaller S swell looks to fill in for the weekend (south of the border) while SE QLD continues to rely on a SE windswell around 2-3ft for Goldy 3ft for Sunny Coast
• New E swell set to fill in from late Tuesday onwards next week with a widespread 5-6ft initially and potentially bigger down the track

Recap

Yesterday we had a new mid period S swell in the 3ft range, best for south of the border. SE QLD didn’t see much of the size staying in that 1-2ft range and smaller. Winds were offshore out of the W/SW early but tended more out of the S to SE as the day went on.

Today we have slightly bigger conditions for the Goldy and Sunny Coast but it’s still not over 2ft. S/SW winds early kept conditions clean enough. South of the border the swell remained in that 3-4ft range, a little bigger for the MNC. Winds were lighter and more W to SW south of the border. 

Later this week

S swell will continue for the remainder of the week providing decent options south of the border. Meanwhile SE QLD will have an E/SE windswell that’ll wrap around the corner better than the S swell. 

South of the border the swell will remain around 3-4ft for Thursday but begin to ease throughout the day. SE QLD will see waves around the 2ft mark at exposed spots, smaller elsewhere with a weak windswell not offering much in terms of size. Winds will start out light and offshore tending stronger and SE for the Goldy and Sunny Coasts and becoming more light and variable for N NSW and NE for the MNC. 

Friday will see the last of the S swell easing to the 1-2ft mark south of the border, with a weak windswell SE QLD will remain small too. Winds will be out of the SW early but tend more SE and strengthen later in the day. 

The weekend 

A SE windswell will create most of the energy for the weekend for SE QLD while another weaker S swell moves up the coast better south of the border. This swell won’t be as well aimed so only expect it at S swell magnets. An E/SE windswell will fill in better across the region due to the persistent E/SE winds driven by a ridge in the Tasman, but it won’t pack much punch. Only really 2-3ft waves across the region, a little bigger for the Sunny Coast up around 3ft. 

Winds will be SW early but tend more SE as the day goes on for both Saturday and Sunday. 

Next week 

The E/SE windswell will continue to provide small waves on Monday with SW winds early tending more SE into the afternoon. 

A more powerful E swell is set to fill in late Tuesday/Wednesday. This swell will build thanks to E winds funnelling into a region of low pressure as it pinches the ridge of high pressure. It will intensify into a low and shift south towards the North Island with strong E winds funneling into the western flank of the low. These winds will direct a decent E swell towards our coast with a widespread 5-6ft expected across the east coast.

Winds will be S/SW early for SE QLD, more W south of the border before a light onshore flow for the afternoon, more SE for SE QLD and more NE for the MNC. Wednesday will see light offshore winds early tending more E/NE but remaining light into the afternoon. 

Let’s keep an eye on it as it could provide a good week of waves.