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 6:13 pm EST on Wednesday 29 April 2026
for the period until midnight EST Saturday 2 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 near-stationary high [1029 hPa] in the Tasman Sea and will persist for several days.

Torres Strait

Forecast for Wednesday 29 April until midnight

Winds: Southeasterly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 20 knots offshore east of Cape York in the evening. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef by early evening. Swell: Southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Mostly clear.

Forecast for Thursday 30 April

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

Forecast for Friday 1 May

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: East to southeasterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres around midday, then decreasing to around 1 metre during the afternoon. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm offshore in the morning and afternoon.

Forecast for Saturday 2 May

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon.

Peninsula Coast: Sharp Point to Cape Melville

Forecast for Wednesday 29 April until midnight

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

Forecast for Thursday 30 April

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. 50% chance of showers.

Forecast for Friday 1 May

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 25 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres outside the reef. Swell: Southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Saturday 2 May

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres outside the reef. Swell: Southeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to around 1 metre outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Cooktown Coast: Cape Melville to Cape Tribulation

Forecast for Wednesday 29 April until midnight

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1 to 2 metres outside the reef. Swell: Southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.

Forecast for Thursday 30 April

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 25 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres outside the reef. Swell: Southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.

Forecast for Friday 1 May

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres outside the reef. Swell: Southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef, decreasing to around 1 metre later in the evening. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Saturday 2 May

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres outside the reef. Swell: Southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef, decreasing to around 1 metre during the morning. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Cairns Coast: Cape Tribulation to Cardwell

Forecast for Wednesday 29 April until midnight

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres outside the reef. Swell: Southeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers.

Forecast for Thursday 30 April

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots north of Cairns during the day. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres outside the reef. Swell: Southeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 2 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers.

Forecast for Friday 1 May

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1 to 2 metres north of Cairns. Swell: Southeasterly below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers.

Forecast for Saturday 2 May

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef. Swell: Southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to around 1 metre during the afternoon or evening. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers.

Townsville Coast: Cardwell to Bowen

Forecast for Wednesday 29 April until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Wednesday for Townsville Coast

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

Forecast for Thursday 30 April

Strong Wind Warning for Thursday for Townsville Coast

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

Forecast for Friday 1 May

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots. Seas: 1 to 2 metres. Swell: Easterly below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres outside the reef. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers.

Forecast for Saturday 2 May

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

Mackay Coast: Bowen to St Lawrence

Forecast for Wednesday 29 April until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Wednesday for Mackay Coast

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots offshore north of Hamilton Island during the afternoon and evening. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres. Swell: Easterly below 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers.

Forecast for Thursday 30 April

Strong Wind Warning for Thursday for Mackay Coast

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots during the afternoon and evening. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres. Swell: East to southeasterly below 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.

Forecast for Friday 1 May

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

Forecast for Saturday 2 May

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

Great Barrier Reef Offshore Waters

Forecast for Wednesday 29 April until midnight

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres. Swell: Southeasterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres through the Capricorn Channel. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm through the Capricorn Channel early this evening.

Forecast for Thursday 30 April

Winds: Southeasterly 20 to 25 knots. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres. Swell: Southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2.5 metres through the Capricorn Channel. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.

Forecast for Friday 1 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. 70% chance of showers.

Forecast for Saturday 2 May

Winds: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre during the morning. Swell: Southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy.

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

* 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.