Australian Government

Bureau of Meteorology


Coastal Waters Forecast 

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IDQ10860

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland

Great Barrier Reef Offshore Waters Forecast: Bowen to Yeppoon

Issued at 9:00 am EST on Wednesday 20 May 2026
for the period until midnight EST Friday 22 May 2026.

Please be aware
Wind 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.

Warning Information

For latest warnings go to www.bom.gov.au, subscribe to RSS feeds, call 1300 659 210* or listen for warnings on relevant TV and radio broadcasts.

Weather Situation

A firm ridge extends across northern Queensland and persist for the next few days, as a new high [1027 hPa] moves east across southern Australia.

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Winds: Southerly 20 to 25 knots. Seas: 1 to 2 metres. Swell: Easterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres through the Capricorn Channel. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Winds: South to southeasterly 20 to 25 knots. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres. Swell: East to southeasterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 2 metres through the Capricorn Channel. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: South to southeasterly 15 to 25 knots. Seas: 1 to 2 metres, decreasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning. Swell: Southeasterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres through the Capricorn Channel. Weather: Partly cloudy.

The next routine forecast will be issued at 2:50 pm EST Wednesday.

* Calls to 1300 numbers cost around 27.5c incl. GST, higher from mobiles or public phones. Marine forecasts are also available on VHF and HF radio. View the radio schedule on www.bom.gov.au/marine

Check the latest Coastal Waters Forecasts for information on wind, wave and weather conditions for neighbouring coastal zones.