Mackay today: waves, weather and sun
- Best time to fish 9:10–10:10 pm fair day · 4/10
- Beach day 6:00–10:00 am Good beach day · 8/10
- Waves · water 0.3 ft · 81 °F calm (rippled) · 2.1 s from the east-northeast
- Wind · air 1 mph · 81 °F calm · light drizzle
- Sun 5:22 am–6:12 pm 12 h 50 min of daylight
- Moon 88% · 9:40 pm waning gibbous · rises at 9:40 pm
- Best time to dive 11:30 am–2:30 pm great day · 10/10
- Pressure 30.09 inHg rising · steady tomorrow
Today, Thursday, October 29, in Mackay the sun rises at 5:22 am and sets at 6:12 pm: 12 h 50 min of daylight. The moon is 88% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 9:40 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:02 am to 3:02 am and from 1:34 pm to 3:34 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 27 to 29. The sea is calm (rippled), with 0.3 ft waves. There is no wind. Light drizzle, 81 °F.
Fishing in Mackay today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: medium- Minor period 9:10–10:10 pm (moonrise)
- Steady pressure (30.12 inHg), light onshore wind (6 mph) and some swell (1.7 ft waves) to stir the water
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
Your day at a glance
The best window, 9:10 pm to 10:10 pm, combines moonrise, a light onshore breeze and some swell. Also good from 1:00 am to 3:00 am, with a major period. Also worth a try from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm, with a major period and a light onshore breeze, though with rising pressure.
Species with the most records nearby: leopard coral grouper, bull shark, orange-spotted grouper and barramundi. What you can catch
We don't show the tide for Mackay, so it doesn't count in the rating. How it works · Next 7 days · Fishing rules
Beach day in Mackay
Is it a beach day?
4 good hours- Sun and clouds
- Feels like 91 °F: beach weather
- Almost no wind
- Calm for swimming: 0.3 ft waves
- UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen
- Water at 81 °F (warm)
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Calm · 0.3 ft
0.3 ft waves: calm for swimming. Low rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 81 °F
Warm: very pleasant.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 10 · SPF 50
Max UV 10 (very high): SPF 50 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours. Seek shade 12:00–1:00 pm (very high UV).
- Wind 7 mph
Onshore breeze (7 mph).
- Tide & sand
We don't show the tide for Mackay, so it doesn't count in the rating.
The best window, 6:00 am to 10:00 am, brings beach weather, little wind, a calm sea and water at 81 °F, though with rain.
We don't have data on jellyfish, sargassum or beach closures: ask the lifeguard or check with the local beach authority. How it works · The next 7 days
Beaches near Mackay
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Far Beach 2.3 mi · E
- Restrooms
- Parking
- Illawong Beach 2.4 mi · SE
- Parking
- Harbour Beach 3.9 mi · E
- Restrooms
- Parking
Named beaches within 6.2 mi, nearest first. Amenities from OpenStreetMap: some may be missing or out of date. View on OpenStreetMap · Add or fix on OpenStreetMap
Beaches and amenities: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Webcams near Mackay
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Mackay
Tides in Mackay: not available yet
There is no tide station near Mackay, and we can't rely on the global tide model on this coast: for now we don't show its tide.
Meanwhile, see the tide in South Mackay · 1.0 mi
The sun, moon, solunar periods and spring tides on this page do apply to this place.
The sea at Mackay
Sea stateSea state: calm (rippled)
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common0.2 ft
- Significant0.3 ft
- Highest expectedHighest0.7 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 0.7 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 0.7 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Onshore wind. The coast faces east and the wind blows straight in from the sea: more surf and backwash at the shore, and bait and boats drift toward land.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves build over the next few days. The biggest waves arrive on Friday 30: 2.8 ft with a period of 4 s, from the east-southeast (slight).
Water temperature
Water temperature →Water temperature changes how fish behave: in very cold or very warm water they feed less. The water is steady these days, with no sudden changes.
Water warmer than normal for late October (+1.5 °F).
Satellite: NASA MUR (JPL MUR MEaSUREs, PO.DAAC), doi:10.5067/GHGMR-4FJ04. Sources and licenses
Water temperature →Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 8:48 am (local time).
Surf in Mackay today
Surf today
Flat- Barely any waves (0.3 ft sets): flat
- Almost no wind (3 mph): glassy water
It’s flat today: almost no waves reach this coast.
- Light: First light 4:59 am · sunrise 5:22 am · sunset 6:12 pm · last light 6:35 pm
- Tide: We don’t have a reliable tide to show here.
- Water at 80.4 °F–81.5 °F: boardshorts or a swimsuit and a rash guard.
- Energy: 0 kJ · Low power
Today’s surf at a glance
The best window, 5:00 am to 9:00 am, has glassy water, though with barely any waves.
An estimate for this stretch of coast, not for a specific break: every beach or reef works its own way (its tide, bottom and angle). Check it when you get there.
Follow the flags and the lifeguards, and don’t paddle out if the surf is above your level: this score is a guide, not a substitute for what you see when you get there.
Diving in Mackay today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- 0.2 ft swell at 2 s from the south: barely any surge
- Light onshore wind (7 mph)
- 0.2 mph current toward the northwest, weak (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: none; the tide doesn't count here
- Likely visibility: good. Rain (0.46 in) over the last few days has stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 80.4–81.5 °F: a shorty or a rash guard.
- Snorkeling: good, calm sea and light wind.
- Night dive: dark from 6:35 pm. Waning gibbous (88%), rising at 9:40 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, combines little swell, light wind, weak current and the sun high. Also good from 5:20 am to 6:30 am, with little swell, light wind and weak current. Also good from 4:30 pm to 6:10 pm, with little swell, light wind and weak current.
We don't have a reliable tide for Mackay, so slack water doesn't count in the rating.
Never dive alone and check with the local dive shop: this rating is a guide, not a substitute for a professional.
Dive sites, wrecks and dive shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
Within 12 mi. Some may be missing or closed; marine reserves usually need a permit. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Sites: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Weather in Mackay
Now in Mackay
- Low / high
- 72 / 84 °F
- Rain
- 0.63 in · 94%
- Clouds
- 48%
- Humidity
- 77%
- Dew pointDew point
- 73 °F
- Visibility
- 15 mi
- UV indexUV
- 4 · moderate
- Air qualityAir
- Fair · 22
- Saharan dust
- No
Pressure and fishing
- ↗ RisingRising · now Anglers say fish bite less for a while
- → SteadySteady Anglers expect normal activity
- ↘ FallingFalling Anglers say fish feed more before the change
Rising now (+0.03 inHg in 3 hours). It barely changes over the next 48 hours. Rising pressure: anglers say fish bite less for a while. Fast changes, either way, tend to affect fishing.
Today, hour by hourHour by hour
Bars: mean wind. Dashed line: gusts. Arrows point where the wind blows to.
| Time | 12:00 am | 3:00 am | 6:00 am | 9:00 am | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 6:00 pm | 9:00 pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | Light rain | Drizzle | Partly cloudy | Light drizzle | Drizzle | Light showers | Drizzle | Overcast |
| Temperature | 74° | 72° | 74° | 81° | 83° | 79° | 75° | 74° |
| Wind (mph) | 2 ESE | 1 SE | 3 S | 1 E | 6 ENE | 6 E | 5 ESE | 6 SE |
| Gusts | 8 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 15 | 10 | 11 |
| Waves | 0.5 ft | 0.4 ft | 0.3 ft | 0.3 ft | 1.0 ft | 1.5 ft | 1.7 ft | 1.7 ft |
| Rain | 0.08 in | 0.03 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.03 in | 0.06 in | 0.03 in | 0.00 in |
- 9:00 am 81° 1 E 0.3 ft
- 12:00 pm 83° 6 ENE 1.0 ft
- 3:00 pm 79° 6 E 1.5 ft
- 6:00 pm 75° 5 ESE 1.7 ft
- 9:00 pm 74° 6 SE 1.7 ft
- 12:00 am 73° 6 SE 1.6 ft
- 3:00 am 72° 5 SE 1.8 ft
- 6:00 am 73° 5 SE 2.2 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 29 | 72 / 84 °F | 7 mph ESE | 1.8 ft | |
| Fri 30 | 70 / 80 °F | 13 mph ESE | 2.8 ft | |
| Sat 31 | 70 / 77 °F | 10 mph E | 2.3 ft | |
| Sun 1 | 72 / 82 °F | 9 mph ENE | 1.1 ft | |
| Mon 2 | 68 / 86 °F | 9 mph NE | 0.7 ft | |
| Tue 3 | 69 / 87 °F | 8 mph N | 0.8 ft | |
| Wed 4 | 69 / 87 °F | 10 mph N | 1.1 ft | |
| Thu 5 | 71 / 87 °F | 10 mph N | 0.8 ft | |
| Fri 6 | 72 / 87 °F | 7 mph N | 0.9 ft | |
| Sat 7 | 72 / 87 °F | 7 mph N | 1.2 ft | |
| Sun 8 | 72 / 86 °F | 4 mph NE | 1.0 ft | |
| Mon 9 | 70 / 86 °F | 12 mph ESE | 2.6 ft | |
| Tue 10 | 71 / 82 °F | 12 mph ESE | 3.2 ft | |
| Wed 11 | 67 / 82 °F | 11 mph ESE | 3.1 ft |
- Fri 30 Drizzle 70° / 80° 2.8 ft
- Sat 31 Drizzle 70° / 77° 2.3 ft
- Sun 1 Light drizzle 72° / 82° 1.1 ft
- Mon 2 Partly cloudy 68° / 86° 0.7 ft
- Tue 3 Light drizzle 69° / 87° 0.8 ft
- Wed 4 Light drizzle 69° / 87° 1.1 ft
- Thu 5 Overcast 71° / 87° 0.8 ft
Each day comes from the best model covering this spot: regional ones first (HRRR and NBM in the U.S., AROME, ICON-EU), then ECMWF; day 16, NOAA GFS. Waves: Météo-France up to day 10, then ECMWF WAM, coarser and further offshore.
- The models They don't agree · low confidence: unsure about rain on Saturday 31. See the models →
- Outlook Next few weeks, compared with normal: a bit warmer, normal rain and a slightly warmer sea. See the outlook →
- Normal Today, cooler than normal for late October (−2.0 °F; normal high: 86 °F). Climate by month →
Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 8:48 am (local time).
The sun in Mackay
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 4:32 am
- Full dark 7:02 pm
- Civil dawn 4:59 am
- Civil dusk 6:35 pm
- Solar noon 11:47 am (82° high)
- Daylight 12 h 50 min (+1 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:42 pm
- Full dark 7:02 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,345,588 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Mackay
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,469 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: medium- 1:02–3:02 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 1:34–3:34 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 6:59–7:59 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 9:10–10:10 pm Minor · moonrise · medium activity
According to solunar theory, fish feed more when the moon passes overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 h) and when it rises or sets (minor periods, 1 h). It works best around new and full moon.
Upcoming moon phases
2026 moon calendar →- Last quarter Mon, Nov 2 · 6:29 amNov 2 in 4 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 5:03 pmNov 9 in 11 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 9:48 pmNov 17 in 19 days
- Full moon Wed, Nov 25 · 12:54 amNov 25 in 27 days
Perigee on October 29, 226,426 mi away, coinciding with the spring tides from October 27 to 29: they will be stronger than usual.
Where to fish in Mackay
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Hospital Bridge Fishing Pier 1.0 mi
- Fishing Deck 4.3 mi
- Mackay Boat Ramp 2.3 mi
- Boat ramp 2.6 mi
- Boat ramp 4.9 mi
- Boat ramp 6.0 mi
- Bucasia Boat Ramp 8.0 mi
- Mackay Marina 4.9 mi
- Tackle World Mackay 1.0 mi
- Compleat Angler Mackay 2.6 mi
- Oh-Fish-ial Tackle 4.8 mi
- River to Reef Fishing Supplies 8.3 mi
Within 9.3 mi. A spot may be missing or closed. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Spots: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps.
Water depth
Shallow, gradualShallow, gradual bottom: you need to go 2.5 mi out for 33 ft of water.
From the shoreline (2.4 mi from Mackay) out to sea, heading east.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep550 ft
- 33 ft deep2.5 mi
- 66 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 3.1 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. About 9.5 ft of water 330 ft out: long casts help, and so does a rising tide, which brings fish closer in.
- Swimming. The water gets deeper little by little, but a few dozen yards out you can no longer stand.
- Diving. Shallow near shore: you only reach 33 ft at 2.5 mi. For dives deeper than 33 ft, go by boat.
Rough estimate: here the data comes in cells of about 0.3 mi and misses details near shore (rocks, sandbars, small coves).
Source: NOAA ETOPO 2022 (CC0), cells of about 0.3 mi; depth below mean sea level. For reference only: not for navigation or anchoring.
Nearest lighthouse
Flat Top Island Light 5.3 mi east
- Light
- 4 flashes every 20 s; white or red depending on where you see it from · Fl(4) WR 20s
- Built
- 1878
Data from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikipedia · Wikidata · Sources and licenses
Tides near MackayTides nearby
- South Mackay1.0 mi
- Mackay City1.5 mi
- East Mackay2.0 mi
- Andergrove5.0 mi
- Rural View6.1 mi
- Slade Point6.6 mi
- Blacks Beach7.0 mi
- Chelona7.5 mi
- Eimeo8.0 mi
- Bucasia8.2 mi
Mackay at a glance
- Town or city of about 84,333 people. Coordinates: 21.153° S, 149.166° E.
- It is 499 mi northwest of Brisbane, the main place in Queensland. The sun rises 23 min later and sets 8 min later than in Brisbane.
- Its coast faces east.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Town Beach (2.2 mi), Far Beach (3.0 mi).
Questions about MackayQuestions
What time is sunset today in Mackay?
At 6:12 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:35 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Mackay?
At 5:22 am. First light comes at 4:32 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 88% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 5:03 pm.
When are the next spring tides?
From October 27 to 29, together with the lunar perigee: they will be stronger than usual.
What are today's solunar periods?
Major 1:02–3:02 am, Minor 6:59–7:59 am, Major 1:34–3:34 pm, Minor 9:10–10:10 pm. Today's activity is medium.
What's the weather like today in Mackay?
Light showers, from 72 °F to 84 °F, with calm and a 94% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Mackay?
Calm (rippled) (Douglas 1): 0.3 ft waves with a period of 2.1 s from the east-northeast. The water is 81.0 °F.
When is the best time to visit Mackay?
The best time to visit Mackay is from July to October: highs of 74 °F to 85 °F, about 3 rainy days a month and 9 hours of sunshine a day.
Can I use this data for navigation?
No. These are predictions for fishing and leisure; for navigation, use the official publications.
Where this data comes from
Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).