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 9:00 pm EST on Thursday 19 March 2026
for the period until midnight EST Sunday 22 March 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 weak ridge will persist over the east coast for the next few days. Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle [935 hPa] in the northwest Coral Sea is forecast to cross the Peninsula coast near Coen during Friday morning. Narelle is then forecast to weaken as it crosses Cape York Peninsula during the rest of Friday, enter the Gulf and begin reintensifying on Friday night, and move towards the Northern Territory on Saturday.

Forecast for Thursday 19 March until midnight

Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Northeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1 to 2 metres north of Creal Reef. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Friday 20 March

Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres north of Creal Reef. Swell: Northeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1 to 2 metres north of Creal Reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers.

Forecast for Saturday 21 March

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Easterly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers.

Forecast for Sunday 22 March

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1 to 2 metres during the afternoon or evening. Swell: East to southeasterly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers.

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

* 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.