Cooktown Coastal Waters Forecast: Cape Melville to Cape Tribulation

View the current warnings for Queensland

Forecast issued at 9:00 pm EST on Thursday 22 January 2026.

Weather Situation

The monsoon trough will persist over the Gulf waters for several days. A weak tropical low (18U) low lies within the monsoon trough over the Gulf waters may linger near the coast or cross the Cape York Peninsula in the coming days. Another weak tropical low (17U) in the northwest Coral Sea will continue to move away from the Queensland coast over the next few days.

Forecast for Thursday until midnight

Winds
East to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots.
Seas
Below 1 metre.
Swell
Southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef.
Weather
Partly cloudy. The chance of a thunderstorm offshore north of Cooktown.

Friday 23 January

Winds
East to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots tending east to northeasterly before dawn.
Seas
Below 1 metre.
Swell
East to southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef.
Weather
Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the late afternoon and evening.

Saturday 24 January

Winds
Northeast to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots.
Seas
Below 1 metre.
Swell
Northeast to southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef.
Weather
Cloudy. 80% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Sunday 25 January

Winds
East to northeasterly 10 to 15 knots tending north to northeasterly during the morning.
Seas
Below 1 metre.
Swell
Southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef.
Weather
Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

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 am EST Friday.

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