Townsville, QLD

North Queensland's largest city — The Strand's rock pool and Magnetic Island's bays offer tropical swimming beneath Castle Hill.

Live AI Coastal Briefing

It's Wednesday, 27 May, and a beautiful morning to all our listeners out there, with the sun peeking through the partly cloudy sky, and a temperature of 20C, a great start to the day. The humidity is sitting at 90%, and we've got a gentle breeze of 7 km/h coming from the south, with gusts of up to 13 km/h, making it a pretty comfortable morning. We're expecting a bit of rain today, with a 100% chance, so make sure you've got your umbrella handy.



Out in the ocean, the wave height is looking pretty small, at 0.30m, which is great for beginners, and the water temperature is a warm 23.9C, perfect for a dip in your boardshorts. The tide times for today are high tide at 07:25 pm, with a height of 3.2m, and low tide at 01:16 pm, with a height of -4.3m, so if you're planning on heading out for a swim or a paddle, make sure you check the tide times. The ocean conditions are looking pretty calm, with plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy the water.



If you're planning on getting out and about today, whether it's for a surf, a run, a cycle, or a spot of fishing, the conditions are looking pretty good, despite the rain. The small waves are perfect for beginners, and the warm water is great for a paddleboard or a swim. The gentle breeze and low UV index of 0.1 mean you won't need to worry too much about sun protection, but do make sure you've got a rain jacket handy, just in case. The air quality is also looking good, with an EU AQI of 14.



As we head into the afternoon, we're expecting the rain to possibly turn into a storm, so make sure you're keeping an eye on the skies, and planning your activities accordingly. Despite the rain, it's still going to be a great day to get out and enjoy the coast, with plenty of opportunities to get in the water, or just take a walk along the beach. So, grab your rain jacket, and your sense of adventure, and make the most of this beautiful coastal day, and we'll catch you back here tomorrow with another update.