Cairns Marine Forecast
Updated Sun Nov 15, 2026
Light winds and low seas all three days
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Marine Forecast for Cairns Nov 15–17, 2026
📋 Light winds and low seas all three days
Light winds of 5 knots or less and small 1.6-1.9 foot east-northeast seas. A 12-hour trip works any time. Slightly choppy at 4-second periods in the afternoon with gusts to 15 knots.
Light winds up to 5 knots and small 1.3-1.5 foot east-northeast seas at 4-5 seconds. A 12-hour trip works any time. About a 35% chance of showers peaking near 1:00 PM.
Very light winds up to 6 knots and low 1.1-1.2 foot east-northeast seas. A 12-hour trip works any time. About a 46% chance of showers early around 3:00 AM; afternoon gusts reach 19 knots.
Sunday through Tuesday are all GO with very light winds of 6 knots or less and small seas of 1.2 to 1.9 feet from the east-northeast. The 12-hour trip can be run at any time on any of the three days. Seas are a little short at 4-5 seconds on Sunday and Monday afternoons but remain small and comfortable, and model agreement is solid at 79-81%.
Recent days at Cairns
Today’s Water at Cairns
Sea surface temperature and chlorophyll around Cairns, imaged fresh every morning. Water at the star is 28.2°C today, and chlorophyll of 0.68 mg/m³ reads as green shelf water at the spot.
Imagery: Nov 14, 2026 · rebuilt every morning
These charts show you the breaks. DeepCast reads them. A zone-by-zone AI fishing report for these exact waters — temperature edges, color changes, and structure, analyzed together.
Get the AI fishing reportSST and chlorophyll from the SeaLegs AI DeepCast satellite pipeline. Charts are a planning aid — always check the official marine forecast before making the run.
About Cairns
Cairns is the gateway to the northern Great Barrier Reef, and almost every trip out of Trinity Inlet means crossing open water from the bay to the outer ribbon reefs. Reef fishos chase coral trout, red emperor, nannygai, and Spanish mackerel, while the heavy-tackle fleet works the ribbons for giant black marlin through the September–December peak — but the run out is what decides the day.
The forecast here is built around the one thing that makes or breaks a Cairns trip: the south-east trade winds against the open-water crossing to the reef. Each day gets rated GO / CAUTION / NO-GO — the same AI rating used in the SeaLegs AI app.
Reading conditions off Cairns
In the dry season the SE trades set the sea state, and there's a world of difference between 10–15 knots and a reinforced 20–25. The reef sits a long way off the beach, so even a moderate trade stacks up a short, sharp chop across the crossing well before you reach the shelter of the outer ribbons. Watch the trend, not just the number: trades that freshen through the week leave little margin on the run home.
Time your crossing to the wind, not just the tide. The trades commonly ease overnight and through the early morning, then build into the afternoon, so an early start off Trinity Inlet usually buys the flattest water. In the summer wet season the pattern flips to monsoon troughs and cyclone risk, when a settled forecast can deteriorate fast — check it the morning you leave, not the night before.
Cairns forecast FAQ
How is the sea at Cairns today?
As of Nov 15, 2026, the SeaLegs AI verdict for Cairns is GO. Easy conditions all day, so a 12-hour trip works at any time. Winds stay at 5 knots or less, light southwest overnight and early morning, easing to near calm around 9:00 AM, then turning east at about 5 knots through the afternoon with gusts to 15 knots. Seas are 1.6-1.9 feet from the east-northeast at 5-second periods, shortening to 4 seconds from 2:00 PM, so a little choppy but small. Evening is calm again, with winds of 1-3 knots. Visibility is excellent and model confidence is good at 81%.
What makes a good day to run the reef out of Cairns?
It comes down to the south-east trades against the open-water crossing from Trinity Inlet to the outer reef. Light-to-moderate trades under about 15 knots usually mean a comfortable run and a GO; a reinforced 20-plus trade builds a short, steep chop across the crossing and pushes the day toward CAUTION or NO-GO. Because the trades tend to ease overnight and build in the afternoon, an early departure generally gives you the flattest water for the run out and back.
How accurate is this Cairns marine forecast?
The outlook is generated from the latest marine model data and rated GO, CAUTION, or NO-GO by the same AI engine used in the SeaLegs AI app. It's a planning aid, not a substitute for the official Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) marine forecast and any current warnings — always check those before heading out.
How often is this forecast updated?
The page is rebuilt every morning from the latest model run, and the SpotCast card refreshes live in your browser. The date stamp above the outlook shows exactly when it was last generated.
What do GO, CAUTION, and NO-GO mean?
GO means conditions are favourable for most recreational boats. CAUTION means marginal — manageable for experienced crews in capable vessels, but check the wind and sea timing closely. NO-GO means conditions are hazardous for small craft and the trip is best postponed.
Can I get a forecast like this for my own spot?
Yes. In the free SeaLegs AI app you can drop a pin anywhere on Earth — your local ramp, a favourite mark, or a spot well offshore — and get the same AI-rated marine forecast and trip planning.
What is the water temperature at Cairns today?
As of Nov 14, 2026, the satellite-derived sea surface temperature at Cairns is about 28.2°C, with chlorophyll around 0.68 mg/m³ (green shelf water). The SST and chlorophyll charts on this page are rebuilt every morning from the SeaLegs AI DeepCast satellite pipeline.
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