Cairns Coastal Waters Forecast: Cape Tribulation to Cardwell

View the current warnings for Queensland

Forecast issued at 10:00 pm EST on Sunday 18 May 2025.

Weather Situation

A high [1034hPa] moving east across the Great Australian Bight extends a ridge of high pressure across northern Queensland waters. The ridge will strengthen from Monday as the parent high tracks further east.

Forecast for Sunday until midnight

Winds
Southeasterly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 20 knots offshore north of Cairns.
Seas
Below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef.
Swell
Southeasterly below 1 metre.
Weather
Partly cloudy.

Monday 19 May

Winds
Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots north of Cairns during the day.
Seas
Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 2 metres outside the reef.
Swell
Southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef.
Weather
Partly cloudy.

Tuesday 20 May

Winds
Southeasterly 15 to 25 knots.
Seas
Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 2 metres outside the reef.
Swell
Southeasterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning, then decreasing to around 1 metre during the afternoon.
Weather
Partly cloudy.

Wednesday 21 May

Winds
Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots.
Seas
Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef.
Swell
Southeasterly below 1 metre.
Weather
Partly cloudy.

Please be awareWind and wave forecasts are averages. Wind gusts can be 40 per cent stronger than the forecast, and stronger still in squalls and thunderstorms. Maximum waves can be twice the forecast height.

Nearby Coastal Waters

Great Barrier Reef Offshore Waters Forecast NT - Roper Groote Coast Forecast NSW - Byron Coast - Coastal Waters Forecast NT - Gove Peninsula Coast Forecast Gold Coast Waters Forecast Moreton Bay Forecast Sunshine Coast Waters Forecast Fraser Island Coast Forecast Hervey Bay Waters Forecast Capricornia Coast Forecast Mackay Coast Forecast Townsville Coast Forecast Cairns Coast Forecast Cooktown Coast Forecast Peninsula Coast Forecast Torres Strait Forecast North East Gulf of Carpentaria Forecast South East Gulf of Carpentaria Forecast

The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:45 am EST Monday.

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