Weekend weather report for Albany’s beachgoers, surfers and anglers

The forecast for the weekend is windy and mild with no rain on the radar. For those wishing to spend a day at the beach, any west-facing beaches in Albany and surrounding areas should catch favourable offshore winds and moderate to large seas. Strong easterly winds (30-45 km/h) due to a high-pressure system in the Bight will make for rough seas and dangerous conditions away from the protection of land. Beaches such as Blossom’s Beach or Gull Rock should catch the favourable wind while beaches such as Nanarup or Ocean Beach have little to no protection from the easterly wind. Shelter Island at Mutton Bird Beach can also provide good protection from the easterly, particularly in the morning before the breeze picks up. Temperatures are looking to be pleasant in the mid-20s all weekend, making for T-shirt weather but always worth keeping a jumper or raincoat handy on the south coast. The swell is forecast to be southwesterly with a total wave height predicted at 1.5 to 2m inshore and 2-3m offshore on Saturday dropping slightly on Sunday. There is also a small 0.5-1 m easterly wind swell caused by the strong easterly wind. Tides are low in the early morning on both days and rising throughout the day, so beachgoers wishing to make a day of it may need to be careful where they park their vehicles on the sand. For surfers, this time of year mostly offers easterly winds and small to moderate swell with most west-facing beaches being a good bet to pick up a wave. A moderate to large swell this weekend may make popular summer breaks unfriendly for beginners with the exposed west-facing beaches copping large waves and strong currents. A slight drop in the swell on Sunday may open up more options for experienced surfers. Sheltered spots such as Mutton-Bird Beach may offer more beginner-friendly conditions but it is best to exercise caution and check conditions on the day. For anglers, the rivers look to be the best option with the strong winds this weekend. This time of year you can find squid, herring and whiting in the waters of the sound while black bream and the occasional mulloway can be found up the rivers. Editor of the Western Angler and Albany fisherman Andrew ‘Korg’ Jarvis said that the rivers are the best bet for catching something over the weekend with strong easterly making it too dangerous to fish offshore. “Next Tuesday and Wednesday are looking half a chance,” he said “But this time of year it’s all dependent on the weather, with the easterly it doesn’t give you very many options at all.” As always it is best to exercise caution when surfing, swimming or fishing, know your conditions and stick within your limits. There is no substitute for checking on conditions yourself on the day and making an informed judgment call.