Surfers, boaters, and rock fishers along the New South Wales (NSW) coast are being advised to exercise caution due to increasingly dangerous wave conditions. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a hazardous surf warning affecting areas from Byron Bay in the north down to Eden in the south, impacting millions.
Forecasters indicate that a high-pressure ridge is directing moderate winds from the south-west along the shoreline, which are expected to pick up to fresh and strong levels this afternoon. As a result, surf and swell conditions are predicted to be risky for activities like rock fishing, boating, and swimming. Locally, wave heights are forecasted to average between two to three metres, but with wind gusts, maximum wave heights could potentially double.
Rock fishers are particularly cautioned to steer clear of coastal rock platforms that are exposed to the ocean, opting instead for areas that provide protection from the surf. Boaters planning to navigate shallow waters or ocean bars are recommended to reconsider or postpone their trips.
Despite the hazardous conditions, a number of adventurous surfers took to the waves yesterday, taking advantage of a break in the weather that followed a period of heavy rain.
In neighbouring South-East Queensland, the Gold Coast is also under a hazardous surf warning, with authorities cautioning beachgoers about the dangerous swells. They have urged locals and visitors alike to stay out of the water as conditions may worsen further.
Overall, it’s essential for all water enthusiasts to heed these warnings and make safety a priority, as the ocean presents significant risks under current conditions.