Australian Government

Bureau of Meteorology


Coastal Waters Forecast 

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IDQ11307

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland

Coastal Waters Forecast for Queensland
Southern Zones: St Lawrence to Point Danger

Issued at 10:43 am EST on Wednesday 20 May 2026
for the period until midnight EST Friday 22 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 South Queensland in the wake of a trough as a high [1027 hPa] moves east across southern Australia. A developing low off the New South Wales coast will move east over the Tasman Sea in the coming days, and enhance winds and swells over far southern Queensland waters later this week and over the weekend.

Capricornia Coast: St Lawrence to Burnett Heads

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Winds: Southerly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots offshore north of Cape Capricorn in the late evening. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore. Swell: Easterly below 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore. Weather: Sunny.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Strong Wind Warning for Thursday for Capricornia Coast

Winds: Southerly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 30 knots offshore south of Cape Capricorn during the day. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres. 1st Swell: Southerly around 1 metre offshore southern waters, increasing to 1 to 2 metres during the morning. 2nd Swell: Northeast to southeasterly below 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 2 metres offshore. Weather: Mostly sunny. 50% chance of showers offshore south of Cape Capricorn, near zero chance elsewhere.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: Southerly 20 to 30 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre, increasing to 1.5 to 2.5 metres offshore. 1st Swell: Southerly 1.5 to 2.5 metres offshore southern waters. 2nd Swell: Northeast to southeasterly below 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 2 metres offshore. Weather: Sunny.

Hervey Bay

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Winds: South to southwesterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres in the northern bay. Swell: North to northeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Sunny.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Winds: Southerly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots in the northern bay in the late afternoon. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: North to northeasterly below 1 metre. Weather: Sunny.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: Southerly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Sunny.

K'gari Coast: Sandy Cape to Double Island Point

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Winds: Southwesterly 15 to 20 knots turning southerly in the middle of the day. Winds reaching up to 25 knots offshore in the late evening. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres offshore. Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres inshore, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres offshore. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Strong Wind Warning for Thursday for K'gari Coast

Winds: Southerly 20 to 30 knots. Seas: 2 to 3 metres. 1st Swell: Southerly around 1 metre, increasing to 1.5 to 2.5 metres during the morning. 2nd Swell: Easterly 1.5 metres, decreasing to around 1 metre during the morning. Weather: Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers offshore, 50% chance elsewhere.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: Southerly 25 to 30 knots. Seas: 2.5 to 3 metres. 1st Swell: Southerly 1 to 2 metres inshore, increasing to 2 to 3 metres offshore. 2nd Swell: Northeast to southeasterly around 1 metre offshore. Weather: Partly cloudy. 70% chance of showers.

Sunshine Coast Waters: Double Island Point to Cape Moreton

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Wednesday for Sunshine Coast Waters

Winds: Southwesterly 15 to 20 knots turning southerly in the middle of the day. Winds reaching up to 30 knots offshore in the late evening. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres offshore. 1st Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres inshore, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres offshore. 2nd Swell: Southerly around 1 metre offshore. Weather: Mostly sunny. 50% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm offshore south of Maroochydore in the evening.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Strong Wind Warning for Thursday for Sunshine Coast Waters

Winds: Southerly 20 to 30 knots. Seas: 2 to 3 metres. 1st Swell: Southerly 1 to 2 metres, increasing to 2 to 3 metres during the morning. 2nd Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to around 1 metre during the morning. Weather: Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: Southerly 25 to 35 knots. Seas: 1 to 2 metres, increasing to 2.5 to 3 metres offshore. Swell: Southerly 1 to 1.5 metres inshore, increasing to 2 to 4 metres offshore. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers.

Moreton Bay

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Winds: Southwesterly 10 to 15 knots turning southerly in the afternoon. Winds reaching up to 20 knots in the eastern bay in the late evening. Seas: Below 1 metre. Weather: Sunny day. The chance of a thunderstorm in the eastern bay in the evening.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Winds: South to southwesterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: South to southwesterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres in the far north. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Gold Coast Waters: Cape Moreton to Point Danger

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Wednesday for Gold Coast Waters

Winds: Southwesterly 15 to 20 knots turning southerly 15 to 25 knots in the morning. Winds reaching up to 30 knots offshore in the evening. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2.5 metres during the afternoon. 1st Swell: Southerly below 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 2 metres offshore by early evening. 2nd Swell: Easterly 1.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the late afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Strong Wind Warning for Thursday for Gold Coast Waters

Winds: Southerly 25 to 30 knots. Seas: 2 to 3 metres. 1st Swell: Southerly 1 to 1.5 metres inshore, increasing to 1.5 to 2.5 metres offshore. 2nd Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to around 1 metre during the morning. Weather: Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm offshore south of Point Lookout in the early morning.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: Southerly 25 to 35 knots. Seas: 2.5 to 3 metres. Swell: Southerly 2.5 to 3 metres, increasing to 3 to 5 metres during the afternoon or evening. Weather: Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers.

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