Extended run of waves
South-east Queensland and Northern NSW Surf Forecast by James Casey (issued Wednesday 5th May)
Best Days: Thursday, Sunday
Outlook:
- Pulse of larger E swell on Thursday into Friday up towards 4-6ft in SE Qld, bigger south of the border, 6ft+ for N NSW and 6-8ft for MNC
- E Pulse on Saturday sustaining waves around that 4-6ft mark in SE Qld, bigger south of the border
- Easing into Sunday
- Start of next week hitting a low point of 3ft on Monday/Tuesday
- E swell to continue into the tail of next week with another pulse on Wednesday/Thursday
Recap
We had nice conditions yesterday with 3-4ft sets (widely debated on in the notes) with the odd larger set. Winds were light and offshore in the morning mainly out of the W/SW and tending light and onshore in the afternoon.
South of the border for N NSW winds and wave heights were similar. Meanwhile the MNC had light winds out of the N/NW, tending NE in the afternoon but remaining light.
Today, waves are a little smaller than yesterday but still in that 3ft range. Winds have been offshore for most of the day with a bit more S in it this afternoon.
This week
An easterly trough low will form today pinching the ridge of high pressure creating a more solid pulse of E swell thanks to an intensification of E winds on the eastern flank of the low. There will also be a secondary fetch up near New Caledonia thanks to a trough extending east.
This larger pulse of E swell will be sustained into the end of the week and start of the weekend. 
Tomorrow (Thursday) looks like the pick of the next few days as W/SW winds keep things clean all day. South of the border winds will be more out of the S/SW, keeping things clean along the points and southern corners but a bit bumpier along the open beaches. Waves will be around the 4ft mark at most exposed beaches, smaller on the points.
Winds will intensify around the eastern flank of the low and associated trough extending out towards New Caledonia as it pinches the ridge, bringing a larger pulse of waves for Friday morning. Expect a widespread 4-6ft for open beaches in SE QLD, with larger surf south of the border - around 6ft+ for N NSW and up towards 6-8ft for the MNC.
Unfortunately winds will start out of the W/NW and tend more N/NW and strengthen on Friday. South of the border winds will start off W/NW and tend more N into the afternoon. This will mean the southern corners that are handling the swell best will be a little bumpy. The better option will be along the beach breaks and protected northern corners.
Into the weekend
Wave heights will remain around 4-6ft for SE QLD, 6ft+ for N NSW and 6-8ft for the MNC into the start of the weekend. Winds will once again be out of the NW on Saturday morning making the points a little ruffled. In the afternoon winds will strengthen out of the N to NE so you’ll need to head to protected northern corners. South of the border winds look more W/NW early but tend light and E/NE in the afternoon.
Sunday will see wave heights begin to ease towards the 4-5ft mark for SE QLD and towards the 5-6ft mark for south of the border. With winds light and variable out of the W/NW in the morning there’ll be some waves on offer. Winds will go NE in the early afternoon. South of the border winds will be more W and be lighter and more variable in the afternoon.
Next week
Monday will see the E swell level out at 3ft continuing into Tuesday. This E swell is thanks to the trade swell setup to the north of NZ. A NE flow will prevent decent waves for the entire day with the light and variable offshore winds in the morning your best wave quality option.
There will be no shortage of E swell into the tail end of next week as the ridge continues to direct E/NE winds towards our region. At this stage there looks to be a pulse on Wednesday into Thursday mainly for the Sunny Coast and Gold Coast, less size south of the border.
We’ll have a closer look on Friday and give you an updated forecast then.
Comments
Whoa.
Spectacular photo
Photos ... scroll through for some awesome pics.
Really good until I got jumped by a massive baitball. That was enough for me.
Heaps of variance in size in the area I checked. One spot 3-5ft and two others, 2-3ft.
"Unfortunately winds will start out of the W/NW"
Why are you sad about these winds?
I'm assuming because they're no good for the points.
Who cares about points when you have nice beachies?
A bit slow today but some sick ones when they came.
Clean 3ft+ perfection.
Frustrating surf this morning. Waves were cooking but I was never in the right spot at the right time. Really big playing field, ended up chasing my tail a lot.
Amazing to watch though, conditions were fantastic. Mainly 3ft, couple of solid 4ft sets.
Not good at Burleigh. heaps of water moving from the creek creating a weird lump making most waves horrible.
yep. Plus there have been a couple of noahs sniffing around the point the last couple of days. Cooly is a much better option.
Surf this week has been epic.., whilst similar swell, minor variances in period, swell direction and sand movement over this week has kept where I have been surfing on the Gc so much fun.. today (long rip bowl rights) was so different from yesterday(peaky barrels and wedges).. but soo good... bit more a wait today though.. I won’t dare put a size on it...:)
+1 on that front plastic
Yeah saw a few people having those sessions Ben.
Slow and shifty meant that you really had to chase them.
But worth it when you could get easy barrels backdooring the suck rock.
3ft Plastic! ;)
frustration too.
thought it was really on the build and waited for what I thought was the most favourable tide .......it got slower.
c'est la vie.
Cooking where I was, sand/swell combo was perfect. Best day in a long time, and only 6 out. Seemed to die off mid morning, but a bit earlier it was pulsing.
Such a nice day for a paddle.
Cooking.
Yeah it's been weird like that FR.
You think it should start to get some more push but it dies.
fatal mistake to try and over-think these pulsey tradewind swells.
came back and the goats had got out and were on the road.....panic stations.
Those goats will be the death of you. Always up to no good.
My favourite yogurt is made from goats milk FR and GF
Haha, absolute classic!
As long as, you know, no-one got hurt.
Yeah I've just been heading out mid-morning and there's been some absolute gems.
Reminiscent of the quality of last year.
down your way?
Roger.
Victoria!
The book!
P U M P I N G :-)
I’ve taken tomorrow off as I’ve missed every day this week except Monday. I hope this south swell does t take over and ruin the beschies (lefts)
good waves everywhere but i found nowhere perfect which was a shame considering the conditions. checked a few southern gc beachies, bit slow then close out sets. headed down the tweed and found fun surf but was hoping for heaving pits.
Interesting note from my local beachie today is that the waves started approaching from the SE at about 9:30am. Strange but very obvious shift in conditions. Made some of the lefts even better.
Bomb set on the Tweed at dusk. Sorry about the quality, it's zoomed and cropped from my phone. Impressive size, 98% chance the SUP rider is Justin Holland.
Cue the sound of skis being serviced....
This arvo was the biggest it has been all week on the MNC.
Pity about the northerlies in May.
Gold coast beachies definately getting the best of this swell...
Yeah agree, it's been terrible up on the S/C..... Goldy is the place to be
Kicked again in Coffs, yesterdays report said 3ft was easy 5-6ft, today's looking like 6ft plus sets and not as clean, was a great 3 days.
Cue the outrage and disbelief...
nah I'm with ya robo, unreal week of waves with obvious and big variances in size across the whole coast. Impossible for anyone to put an honest assessment of size at any other place other than the one they surfed themselves.
Bit too straight this morning, shame as I thought the south in it would open up the rights abit more.
seems like the early high tides with the pick up in swell the last couple of days have created a slight backwashy situation disturbing the clean lines out the back. where i checked anyway on tweed and southern gc. cleaned up later in morn but still mainly straight. but could find gems if you chased down corners and/ or odd peaks
Easy 6ft sets on the Tweed this morning. Coupla spots pumping. Coupla others, not so.
How's this weather, eh? Warm, clear water, blue skies... divine.
Since Tuesday the northern beaches of the GC have been cooking. I broke the nose off my step up yesterday and was struggling this morning on my smaller shortboard. Could've been because I've been surfing for 4 days straight as well. Before this was shithouse S swells and other nonsense so my fitness was at a low coming into it.
I call this morning 5-6ft on the sets but it was a tiny bit lumpier and sweepier than the other mornings, you can check the narrowneck cam now and it's still big.
I checked yesterday at the southern beachies because I was down there running an errand and it was HEAPS smaller and crappier. Where the forecaster takes photos of the Gold Coast report if you know. Get up there and get amongst it! Hasn't been too crowded either unlike when it's 2ft and offshore.
If the conditions were like this more often, I wouldn't be dreaming of greener pastures so much. Much love to all. I'm tapping out for tomorrow and hopefully it's still around from Sunday onwards.
Why post this if you want a continuation of the low crowds. Surely you realise this won’t help the cause?
I'd post it too - especially if I live anywhere but the northern GC beaches.
Well played @juegasiempre!
GC northern beaches are firing. Go there everyone. Even free ice creams after your epic surf!!!
Proper juice this morning.
nah 3-3 ft max :)
got a couple of bangers, semi-destroyed a 6'3" Maurice Cole protow and got back just in time for kids cross-country race.
good little mixed bag.
The waves made me happy.
Fucking sick.
So good.
get some good ones Andy?
I felt like I was sitting in D's spot.
Screamers.
Quite a few solid drops, heaps of walls to play with and a couple of trips the length of the point.
Seemed like a lot of people either couldn't get into or didn't want the sets so I got my fair share.
Bigger board helped a lot.
How about you, pick off some bombs?
aye. good little sesh.
I just figured out what you meant.
Yeah Happy D has that spot on lockdown, it produces the goods, especially when he gets that albatross wingspan going :)
funny to see the vibe of the comments as different parts of the coast fire..
gc beachies were cooking early in the week with lower swell periods, everyone in the shire is grumpy, as it doesn't make the point anygood.
today swell period jumps, GC beachies get straighter, Shire kicks into gear...
...GC crew go about their day grateful for the week that's been.
fuck yeah.. got barreled every day, and generally crew of less than 10.....