The models have slowed Friday’s frontal passage, which has delayed the weekends inbound westerly swell.

A trough forms a surface low later today off the NQLD coast, drifting south through Thurs and Friday before fading out and tracking back NE towards New Caledonia.

A long interior trough and developing trough/low off the North QLD coast are tightening the pressure gradient along most of the ridge, bringing fresh onshore winds and a deep E’ly pattern to the majority of Tasman Sea and Central/Southern Coral Sea.

We’ve got a blustery weekend ahead. It’s a classic winter frontal pattern, that may become supercharged thanks to a tropical infeed, courtesy of TC Karim.