Australian Government

Bureau of Meteorology


Coastal Waters Forecast 

Marine (lite) Home

IDQ11292

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland

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

Issued at 9:47 am EST on Monday 11 May 2026
for the period until midnight EST Wednesday 13 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 large high [1035 hPa] in the Great Australian Bight. The ridge will remain in place over coming days as the high slowly moves eastwards.

Torres Strait

Forecast for Monday 11 May until midnight

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots. 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. 50% chance of showers.

Forecast for Tuesday 12 May

Strong Wind Warning for Tuesday for Torres Strait

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots offshore east of Cape York during the day. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 2 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.

Forecast for Wednesday 13 May

Winds: Southeasterly 20 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. 70% chance of showers.

Peninsula Coast: Sharp Point to Cape Melville

Forecast for Monday 11 May until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Monday for Peninsula Coast

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 30 knots. Seas: 1 to 2 metres, increasing to 2 to 3 metres outside the reef. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to 1.5 to 2.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.

Forecast for Tuesday 12 May

Strong Wind Warning for Tuesday for Peninsula Coast

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 30 knots. Seas: 1 to 2 metres, increasing to 2 to 3 metres outside the reef. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to 1.5 to 2.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.

Forecast for Wednesday 13 May

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. 50% chance of showers.

Cooktown Coast: Cape Melville to Cape Tribulation

Forecast for Monday 11 May until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Monday for Cooktown Coast

Winds: Southeasterly 25 to 30 knots. Seas: 2 to 2.5 metres. Swell: East to southeasterly 1 to 2 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers.

Forecast for Tuesday 12 May

Strong Wind Warning for Tuesday for Cooktown Coast

Winds: Southeasterly 25 to 30 knots. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres, increasing to 2.5 to 3 metres outside the reef. Swell: East to southeasterly 1.5 to 2.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers.

Forecast for Wednesday 13 May

Winds: Southeasterly 25 to 30 knots. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres. Swell: East to southeasterly 1.5 to 2.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers.

Cairns Coast: Cape Tribulation to Cardwell

Forecast for Monday 11 May until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Monday for Cairns Coast

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots north of Cairns during the day. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2.5 metres outside the reef. Swell: Southeasterly 1 to 2 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers.

Forecast for Tuesday 12 May

Strong Wind Warning for Tuesday for Cairns Coast

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 30 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2.5 metres outside the reef. Swell: Southeasterly 1.5 to 2.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.

Forecast for Wednesday 13 May

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 30 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2.5 metres outside the reef. Swell: Southeasterly 1.5 to 2.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers.

Townsville Coast: Cardwell to Bowen

Forecast for Monday 11 May until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Monday for Townsville Coast

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots offshore south of Cape Bowling Green in the evening. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres. Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef, increasing to 1 to 2 metres during the afternoon. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Tuesday 12 May

Strong Wind Warning for Tuesday for Townsville Coast

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots offshore during the day. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres. Swell: Easterly 1 to 2 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers.

Forecast for Wednesday 13 May

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 30 knots. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres. Swell: Easterly 1 to 2 metres outside the reef, decreasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the evening. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers.

Mackay Coast: Bowen to St Lawrence

Forecast for Monday 11 May until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Monday for Mackay Coast

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots offshore north of Hamilton Island in the evening. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres offshore. Swell: Easterly around 1 metre offshore. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Tuesday 12 May

Strong Wind Warning for Tuesday for Mackay Coast

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots offshore north of Hamilton Island during the day. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres. Swell: Easterly below 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers.

Forecast for Wednesday 13 May

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres. Swell: Easterly below 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers.

Great Barrier Reef Offshore Waters

Forecast for Monday 11 May until midnight

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots increasing to 20 to 30 knots in the evening then decreasing to 20 to 25 knots in the late evening. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres. Swell: East to southeasterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1.5 metres through the Capricorn Channel. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Tuesday 12 May

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots increasing to 20 to 30 knots in the late afternoon then decreasing to 20 to 25 knots in the late evening. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres. Swell: East to southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres through the Capricorn Channel. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers.

Forecast for Wednesday 13 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. 60% chance of showers.

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

* 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.