Cairns Coastal Waters Forecast: Cape Tribulation to Cardwell

View the current warnings for Queensland

Forecast issued at 9:00 am EST on Sunday 22 February 2026.

Weather Situation

A weak trough in the Coral Sea will move slowly north, reaching the Peninsula waters on Tuesday. A ridge extends over the north Queensland waters south of Townsville.

Forecast for Sunday until midnight

Winds
South to southeasterly about 10 knots increasing to 10 to 15 knots in the morning.
Seas
Below 1 metre.
Swell
Southeasterly below 1 metre.
Weather
Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Monday 23 February

Winds
Southerly 10 to 15 knots turning southeasterly in the early afternoon.
Seas
Below 1 metre.
Swell
Southeasterly below 1 metre.
Weather
Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Tuesday 24 February

Winds
Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots.
Seas
Around 1 metre.
Swell
Southeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to around 1 metre outside the reef.
Weather
Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers.

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 3:00 pm EST Sunday.

Product IDQ11304