Cairns Coastal Waters Forecast: Cape Tribulation to Cardwell

View the current warnings for Queensland

Forecast issued at 3:00 pm EST on Saturday 14 March 2026.

Weather Situation

A high in the Tasman Sea extends a firm ridge along the coast with fresh southeasterly winds moving northwards over the weekend. A trough in the Coral Sea may extend across the far northern Peninsula and Torres Strait early next week.

Forecast for Saturday until midnight

Winds
Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots offshore south of Innisfail in the evening.
Seas
1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1 to 2 metres south of Innisfail.
Swell
Southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres later in the evening.
Weather
Cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm later this evening.

Sunday 15 March

Winds
Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots offshore south of Innisfail early in the morning and again in the evening.
Seas
1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1 to 2 metres south of Innisfail.
Swell
Southeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 2 metres outside the reef.
Weather
Partly cloudy. 95% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the early morning.

Monday 16 March

Winds
Southeasterly 15 to 25 knots.
Seas
1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1 to 2 metres outside the reef.
Swell
Southeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 2 metres outside the reef.
Weather
Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers.

Tuesday 17 March

Winds
Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots.
Seas
Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef.
Swell
Southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef, increasing to 1 to 2 metres during the morning.
Weather
Partly cloudy. 60% 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 9:00 pm EST Saturday.

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