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 9:00 am EST on Saturday 19 September 2026
for the period until midnight EST Monday 21 September 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 high pressure ridge extends over the North Queensland waters, weakening on Sunday.

Torres Strait

Forecast for Saturday 19 September until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Saturday for Torres Strait

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots offshore east of Cape York in the late morning. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to 1.5 to 2.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Sunday 20 September

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots offshore east of Cape York early in the morning. Seas: 1 to 2 metres. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 2 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Monday 21 September

Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: East to southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to around 1 metre during the afternoon or evening. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Peninsula Coast: Sharp Point to Cape Melville

Forecast for Saturday 19 September until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Saturday for Peninsula Coast

Winds: Southeasterly 25 to 30 knots. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to 1.5 to 2.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Sunday 20 September

Strong Wind Warning for Sunday for Peninsula Coast

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots offshore early in the morning. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres, decreasing to 1 to 1.5 metres around midday. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 2 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Monday 21 September

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 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 during the evening. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Cooktown Coast: Cape Melville to Cape Tribulation

Forecast for Saturday 19 September until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Saturday for Cooktown Coast

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 30 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 2 to 2.5 metres outside the reef. Swell: East to southeasterly 1 to 2 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Sunday 20 September

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 25 knots. Seas: 1 to 2 metres, decreasing below 1.5 metres around midday. Swell: Easterly 1 to 2 metres outside the reef, decreasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the afternoon. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Forecast for Monday 21 September

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre during the afternoon. Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef, decreasing to around 1 metre during the evening. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Cairns Coast: Cape Tribulation to Cardwell

Forecast for Saturday 19 September until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Saturday for Cairns Coast

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 30 knots north of Cairns in the late morning. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1 to 2 metres outside the reef. Swell: East to southeasterly 1 to 2 metres outside the reef, decreasing to 1 to 1.5 metres later in the evening. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Sunday 20 September

Winds: Southeasterly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 20 knots north of Cairns during the morning. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre around midday. Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Monday 21 September

Winds: East to southeasterly 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: Partly cloudy.

Townsville Coast: Cardwell to Bowen

Forecast for Saturday 19 September until midnight

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Sunday 20 September

Winds: East to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots decreasing to about 10 knots in the late evening. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef, decreasing to around 1 metre later in the evening. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Forecast for Monday 21 September

Winds: Easterly about 10 knots increasing to 10 to 15 knots during the evening. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Easterly around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Mackay Coast: Bowen to St Lawrence

Forecast for Saturday 19 September until midnight

Winds: Southeasterly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 20 knots offshore north of Hamilton Island during the day. Winds tending northeast to southeasterly in the late evening. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore north of Hamilton Island. Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres offshore, decreasing to around 1 metre by early evening. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Forecast for Sunday 20 September

Winds: Variable about 10 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Easterly around 1 metre offshore. Weather: Sunny.

Forecast for Monday 21 September

Winds: Variable about 10 knots. Seas: Below 0.5 metres. Swell: Easterly below 1 metre. Weather: Sunny.

Great Barrier Reef Offshore Waters

Forecast for Saturday 19 September until midnight

Winds: Southeasterly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 20 knots north of Creal Reef during the day. Winds turning easterly in the late evening. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres north of Creal Reef. Swell: East to southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Sunday 20 September

Winds: Easterly 10 to 15 knots becoming variable about 10 knots before dawn. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: East to southeasterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres through the Capricorn Channel. Weather: Sunny.

Forecast for Monday 21 September

Winds: East to northeasterly about 10 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: East to southeasterly around 1 metre. Weather: Sunny.

The next routine forecast will be issued at 3:00 pm EST Saturday.

* 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.