Australian Government

Bureau of Meteorology


Coastal Waters Forecast 

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IDQ11292

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland

Coastal Waters Forecast for Queensland
Northern Zones: Torres Strait to St Lawrence

Issued at 3:00 am EST on Thursday 11 December 2025
for the period until midnight EST Saturday 13 December 2025.

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 high over the Tasman Sea extends a ridge over northern Queensland waters. The ridge will be maintained as a new high south of the Bight moves eastwards during the next few days.

Torres Strait

Forecast for Thursday 11 December until midnight

Winds: East to southeasterly about 10 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Friday 12 December

Winds: Easterly about 10 knots increasing to 10 to 15 knots in the morning. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning.

Forecast for Saturday 13 December

Winds: Easterly 10 to 15 knots decreasing to about 10 knots during the morning. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers.

Peninsula Coast: Sharp Point to Cape Melville

Forecast for Thursday 11 December until midnight

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots turning easterly in the late morning and afternoon. Seas: Below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers.

Forecast for Friday 12 December

Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef. Swell: Southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Forecast for Saturday 13 December

Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Cooktown Coast: Cape Melville to Cape Tribulation

Forecast for Thursday 11 December until midnight

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef. Swell: East to southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Friday 12 December

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres north of Cooktown. Swell: East to southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Sunny.

Forecast for Saturday 13 December

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: East to southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Sunny.

Cairns Coast: Cape Tribulation to Cardwell

Forecast for Thursday 11 December until midnight

Winds: Southeasterly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 20 knots offshore north of Cairns early in the morning. Seas: Below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef. Swell: East to southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef, decreasing to around 1 metre later in the evening. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Friday 12 December

Winds: Southeasterly 10 to 15 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: East to southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef, decreasing to around 1 metre during the morning. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Saturday 13 December

Winds: East to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots decreasing to about 10 knots during the morning then increasing to 10 to 15 knots during the afternoon. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: East to southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef, decreasing to around 1 metre during the afternoon or evening. Weather: Sunny.

Townsville Coast: Cardwell to Bowen

Forecast for Thursday 11 December until midnight

Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre during the morning, then increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres by early evening. Swell: Easterly around 1 metre outside the reef, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning, then decreasing to around 1 metre around midday. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Forecast for Friday 12 December

Winds: Easterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing below 1 metre during the morning, then increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres by early evening. Swell: Easterly around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Forecast for Saturday 13 December

Winds: Easterly 10 to 15 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef, decreasing to around 1 metre during the morning. Weather: Sunny.

Mackay Coast: Bowen to St Lawrence

Forecast for Thursday 11 December until midnight

Winds: Easterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore by early evening. Swell: Easterly below 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Forecast for Friday 12 December

Winds: Easterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Easterly below 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Forecast for Saturday 13 December

Winds: Easterly 10 to 15 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Easterly below 1 metre. Weather: Sunny.

Great Barrier Reef Offshore Waters

Forecast for Thursday 11 December until midnight

Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Easterly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Friday 12 December

Winds: Easterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre during the morning. Swell: Easterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres through the Capricorn Channel. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Forecast for Saturday 13 December

Winds: Easterly 10 to 15 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Easterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres through the Capricorn Channel. Weather: Sunny.

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