View the current warnings for Queensland
Forecast issued at 9:00 am EST on Thursday 19 March 2026.
Weather Situation
A high in the Tasman Sea extends a ridge over the east of the state. Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle [963 hPa] in the northern Coral Sea is forecast to continue moving westwards while intensifying, entering the Cooktown and Peninsula waters on Thursday night and crossing the Far North Queensland coast on Friday morning.
Forecast for Thursday until midnight
- Winds
- West to southwesterly about 10 knots, reaching up to 20 knots offshore east of Cape York in the late evening.
- Seas
- Below 1 metre.
- Swell
- East to southeasterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the afternoon.
- Weather
- Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the evening.
Friday 20 March
- Winds
- Westerly 15 to 20 knots turning northwesterly during the day. Winds reaching up to 25 knots offshore east of Cape York in the late morning and early afternoon.
- Seas
- Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning.
- Swell
- East to southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to around 1 metre around midday.
- Weather
- Cloudy. 95% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning.
Saturday 21 March
- Winds
- Northwesterly 15 to 20 knots.
- Seas
- 1 to 2 metres, decreasing below 1.5 metres during the evening.
- Swell
- East to southeasterly below 1 metre.
- Weather
- Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon.
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
- See detailed wind and wave forecasts on MetEye
- This forecast is also available via scheduled broadcasts on marine radio.
- Latest Coastal Observations
- Tide Predictions
- Marine Knowledge Centre - explanations and definitions
The next routine forecast will be issued at 3:00 pm EST Thursday.
Product IDQ11302