IDQ11292
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland
Issued at 9:20 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.
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.
Winds: Westerly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 25 knots offshore east of Cape York. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 2 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. The chance of a thunderstorm.
Winds: Westerly 15 to 25 knots turning northwesterly during the day. Winds reaching up to 30 knots inshore in the late afternoon. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1 to 2 metres during the morning. Swell: East to southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to around 1 metre around midday. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of showers.
Winds: Northwesterly 15 to 25 knots decreasing to 10 to 15 knots in the evening. Seas: 1 to 2 metres, decreasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the afternoon. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.
Winds: Northwesterly 10 to 15 knots becoming variable about 10 knots during the afternoon. Seas: Around 1 metre, decreasing below 0.5 metres during the evening. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.
At 7:00 pm EST Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle was located about 120 nautical miles north northeast of Cooktown and 165 nautical miles east of Coen. Centre located near 13.6S 146.0E. Recent movement has been towards the west at 10 knots.
Winds: Above 64 knots expected due to Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle. Waves: Seas and swell exceeding 8m. Weather: Cloudy. 80% chance of rain. The chance of a thunderstorm.
Winds: Above 64 knots expected due to Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle. Waves: Seas and swell exceeding 8m. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of rain. The chance of a thunderstorm.
Winds: Northwest to northeasterly 15 to 25 knots becoming variable about 10 knots in the evening. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre around midday. Swell: North to northeasterly 1 to 2 metres outside the reef, decreasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning, then tending easterly around 1 metre during the afternoon. Weather: Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.
Winds: Variable about 10 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: East to southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Cloudy. 90% chance of rain. The chance of a thunderstorm.
At 7:00 pm EST Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle was located about 120 nautical miles north northeast of Cooktown and 165 nautical miles east of Coen. Centre located near 13.6S 146.0E. Recent movement has been towards the west at 10 knots.
Winds: Above 64 knots possible depending on movement and development of Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle. Waves: Seas and swell exceeding 8m. Weather: Cloudy. 80% chance of rain. The chance of a thunderstorm.
Winds: Above 64 knots possible depending on movement and development of Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle. Waves: Seas and swell exceeding 8m. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of rain. The chance of a thunderstorm.
Winds: East to northeasterly 15 to 20 knots tending east to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots in the late afternoon. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: East to northeasterly 1 to 2 metres outside the reef, decreasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning, then tending easterly 1 to 1.5 metres around midday. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of rain. The chance of a thunderstorm.
Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres south of Cooktown. Swell: Southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Cloudy. 80% chance of rain. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon.
Winds: East to southeasterly 20 to 30 knots, reaching up to 35 knots offshore north of Cairns. Seas: 1.5 metres, increasing to 2 to 3 metres outside the reef. Swell: East to northeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to 2 to 3 metres outside the reef. Weather: Cloudy. 70% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.
Winds: Easterly 15 to 25 knots, reaching up to 35 knots north of Cairns early in the morning. Seas: 2 to 3 metres, decreasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the afternoon. Swell: East to northeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to 1.5 to 2.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of rain. The chance of a thunderstorm.
Winds: Easterly 15 to 20 knots turning southeasterly in the early afternoon. Seas: Below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef. Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Cloudy. 90% chance of rain. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon.
Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef. Swell: Southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.
Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots. Seas: 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres outside the reef. Swell: Northeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. The chance of a thunderstorm north of Cape Bowling Green.
Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots offshore north of Cape Bowling Green early in the morning. Winds turning easterly during the morning and early afternoon. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1 to 2 metres outside the reef. Swell: Northeasterly 1 to 2 metres, decreasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.
Winds: Easterly 15 to 20 knots turning southeasterly during the morning and early afternoon. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: East to northeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to around 1 metre during the afternoon. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers.
Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 25 knots. Seas: 1 to 2 metres. Swell: Easterly around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers.
Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy.
Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.
Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore. Swell: Easterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.
Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 25 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres offshore during the afternoon or evening. Swell: Easterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers.
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.
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.
Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Easterly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers.
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.