Moreton Bay Marine Forecast
Updated Fri Sep 11, 2026
Light winds but choppy short-period seas need caution all weekend
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Marine Forecast for Moreton Bay Sep 11–13, 2026
📋 Light winds but choppy short-period seas need caution all weekend
Light 9-14 knot SE winds but gusty (up to 31 knots), with a confused cross-sea as E swell meets SSE wind-wave, especially midday into evening. Steep, choppy conditions persist much of the day - caution advised, best to go early morning.
Light 7-10 knot SE winds with gusts to 24 knots creating steep chop through midday hours. Evening (after 6 PM) is much calmer with seas easing to under 2 feet - best window for a later outing.
Calm early morning (4-6 knots) gives way to a brief steep chop around late morning as gusts hit 24-26 knots. Afternoon and evening ease back to light 5-7 knot winds and sub-2 feet seas - the best window of the whole forecast.
Winds stay light to moderate (5-14 knots) from the south to southeast through the weekend, but short 4-second wave periods create steep, choppy conditions during peak breeze each day. Sunday afternoon offers the calmest window as winds ease into the evening, while all three days carry a caution rating due to wind-wave chop layered on the short-period swell.
Recent days at Moreton Bay
Today’s Water at Moreton Bay
Sea surface temperature and chlorophyll around Moreton Bay, imaged fresh every morning. Water at the star is 68.8°F today, and chlorophyll of 1.16 mg/m³ reads as nutrient-rich green water at the spot.
Imagery: Sep 10, 2026 · rebuilt every morning
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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 Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay is Brisbane's sheltered water, screened from the Coral Sea by Moreton and North Stradbroke Islands. Inside the bay the fetch is limited and the swell is largely stopped; outside the islands, through the bar, it is open ocean. Those are two different boating days, and the difference is worth respecting.
The outlook below updates every morning from the latest marine model data, and each day gets an honest GO, CAUTION, or NO-GO call — the same AI rating used in the SeaLegs AI app.
Reading conditions on Moreton Bay
The bay's working wind is the southeasterly, and because the bay is shallow it responds quickly — a fresh southeast builds a short, steep chop far out of proportion to the wave height you would expect from the same wind in deep water. Short-period chop is uncomfortable and tiring rather than dangerous for most boats, but it decides whether a day is enjoyable.
Through the warmer months, watch the afternoon. Southeast Queensland summers bring afternoon and evening thunderstorms that can arrive fast and lift wind sharply for a short period, and a calm morning is no guarantee of a calm run home. If your day involves crossing out through the bar into open water, weight swell as heavily as wind — the shelter ends where the islands do.
Moreton Bay forecast FAQ
How is the sea at Moreton Bay today?
As of Sep 11, 2026, the SeaLegs AI verdict for Moreton Bay is CAUTION. Friday brings generally light 9-14 knot south-southeast to southeast winds all day, but gusts push into the 25-31 knot range especially from late morning through evening, kicking up a steep wind-driven chop on top of the short 4-second southeast swell. The rationale flags an E swell crossing the SSE wind-wave along with a confused cross-sea for about 6 hours, meaning two wave trains arrive from different directions and produce an awkward, uncomfortable motion with no single comfortable heading - expect this mainly through the midday-to-evening hours when gusts peak. Given the steep chop persisting for 16 hours, this is a caution day: manageable for experienced boaters who time their outing around the calmer early morning hours, but not a day for a relaxed, comfortable ride.
How accurate is this Moreton Bay 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 Bureau of Meteorology's coastal waters forecast and marine warnings — always check those before heading out.
Does this cover outside the bay as well?
This forecast describes Moreton Bay itself. Conditions outside Moreton and North Stradbroke Islands are usually rougher, because the islands stop most of the ocean swell — if you're crossing the bar, plan for the open water, not the bay.
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 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.
What is the water temperature at Moreton Bay today?
As of Sep 10, 2026, the satellite-derived sea surface temperature at Moreton Bay is about 68.8°F, with chlorophyll around 1.16 mg/m³ (nutrient-rich green water). The SST and chlorophyll charts on this page are rebuilt every morning from the SeaLegs AI DeepCast satellite pipeline.
More offshore forecasts
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