Central QLD Forecaster Notes by Steve Shearer (issued on Fri 13th May)

This weekend and next week (May13-20)

Central QLD: Pumping surf Sat, slowly easing from Sun into next week

Pumping surf across the region since the last f/cast with more to come over the weekend.

Doesn't get much better

Few tweaks to the weekend f/cast. The fetch of deep E to E/NE winds in the Coral and Northern Tasman Sea is contracting northwards around a surface low off the CQ/Fraser coast, and expected to fizzle out over the weekend. At present gales are retrograding towards the QLD, generating large swells.

That will see E’ly swell peak overnight and through tomorrow across the region, before beginning an easing trend which continues for a few days. 

Dream chart for CQ

Expect pumping surf in the 4-6ft range through Sat with a tricky wind forecast. Models show the low washing out close to the Wide Bay coast through tomorrow. That should see an early brisk SW-SE flow, with a tendency for a light NW-NE breeze through the a’noon. Keep tabs on local winds because if the low washes out sooner or further south then the light NW to NE flow will occur sooner. Either way there should be some very good waves on offer through tomorrow.

Solid surf continues through Sun, although easing with 3-5ft surf, easing back during the day. Winds are again flukey with a light troughy pattern lingering over the region.That should see a light SE-NE flow but keep tabs on local winds, they will swing around at random during the day.

Into next week and we’ll see easing surf through the start of the week. There’ll be some leftover surf in the 2-3ft range Mon, dropping back during the day with light SE winds.

Through Tues-Thurs surf drops right back into the 1ft range. Good time to catch up on work.

Looking ahead another dominant high moving at low latitudes (S of Tas) sets up another E’ly pattern in the Tasman and Coral Sea through the end of next week and weekend of the 21/5. That will see another round of E to E/NE swell and an onshore flow. Typical of the La Niña Merry Go Round we are currently on with no end in sight.

Happy days for CQ surfers.

Check back Mon for a fresh update and have a great weekend!