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 pm EST on Wednesday 17 June 2026
for the period until midnight EST Saturday 20 June 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 ridge extends over the north Queensland waters from a high [1029 hPa] over the Tasman Sea. The ridge and high will gradually weaken later this week.

Forecast for Wednesday 17 June until midnight

Winds: Easterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres through the Capricorn Channel. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Thursday 18 June

Winds: Easterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre around midday. Swell: Easterly 1 to 2 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Friday 19 June

Winds: Easterly 10 to 15 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1 to 2 metres through the Capricorn Channel. Weather: Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers north of Creal Reef, 50% chance elsewhere.

Forecast for Saturday 20 June

Winds: Easterly 10 to 15 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to around 1 metre during the morning. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers.

The next routine forecast will be issued at 3:00 am EST Thursday.

* 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.