Australian Government

Bureau of Meteorology


Coastal Waters Forecast 

Marine (lite) Home

IDQ10860

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland

Great Barrier Reef Offshore Waters Forecast: Bowen to Yeppoon

Issued at 6:12 pm EST on Wednesday 29 April 2026
for the period until midnight EST Saturday 2 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 over the northern Queensland waters from a near-stationary high [1029 hPa] in the Tasman Sea and will persist for several days.

Forecast for Wednesday 29 April until midnight

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres. Swell: Southeasterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres through the Capricorn Channel. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm through the Capricorn Channel early this evening.

Forecast for Thursday 30 April

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres. Swell: Southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2.5 metres through the Capricorn Channel. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.

Forecast for Friday 1 May

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres. Swell: Southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres through the Capricorn Channel. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.

Forecast for Saturday 2 May

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre during the morning. Swell: Southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy.

The next routine forecast will be issued at 9:00 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.