Cairns Bay today: waves, weather and sun
- Best time to fish 2:40–4:40 pm fair day · 3/10
- Beach day Not today Not a beach day · 0/10
- Waves · water 5.9 ft · 58 °F moderate · 10.7 s from the south-southwest
- Wind · air 13 mph · 57 °F from the WNW, gusts 32 · overcast
- Sun 6:00 am–7:53 pm 13 h 53 min of daylight
- Moon 89% waning gibbous
- Best time to dive 6:30–7:50 pm fair day · 3/10
- Pressure 30.05 inHg steady · steady tomorrow
Today, Thursday, October 29, in Cairns Bay the sun rises at 6:00 am and sets at 7:53 pm: 13 h 53 min of daylight. The moon is 89% illuminated (waning gibbous). Major solunar periods run from 2:11 am to 4:11 am and from 2:43 pm to 4:43 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 27 to 29. The sea is moderate, with 5.9 ft waves. There's a moderate breeze from the west-northwest (13 mph). Overcast, 57 °F.
Fishing in Cairns Bay today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: high- Major period 2:43–4:43 pm
- Rising pressure (+0.19 inHg in 24 h), moderate offshore wind (16 mph) and 5.5 ft waves
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
Your day at a glance
The best window, 2:40 pm to 4:40 pm, lines up with a major period, though with rising pressure and moderate wind. Also worth a try from 2:10 am to 4:10 am, with a major period, though with rising pressure. Also worth a try from 5:30 am to 6:40 am, with sunrise, though with rising pressure.
Species with the most records nearby: tope shark, Japanese amberjack, Atlantic cod and bluefish. What you can catch
We don't show the tide for Cairns Bay, so it doesn't count in the rating. How it works · Next 7 days · Fishing rules
Beach day in Cairns Bay
Is it a beach day?
- UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen
- Cloudy (82% cloud cover)
- Feels like 54 °F: chilly for the beach
- Moderate offshore wind (16 mph): it blows floats and inflatables out to sea
- Swim with care: 6.2 ft waves every 11 s; high rip current risk
- Water at 58 °F (very cold)
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Use care · 6.2 ft
6.2 ft waves every 11 s: swim with care and stay where you can stand. High rip current risk. If you're caught in a rip current, don't swim against it: swim parallel to shore and wave for help. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 58 °F
Very cold: ease in and keep swims short.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 4 · SPF 30
Max UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours.
- Wind 16 mph
Moderate offshore wind (16 mph). Skip the inflatables: offshore wind carries them out to sea.
- Tide & sand
We don't show the tide for Cairns Bay, so it doesn't count in the rating.
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 Cairns Bay
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Drip Beach 5.8 mi · E
- Dip Beach 5.9 mi · E
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 Cairns Bay
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Cairns Bay
Tides in Cairns Bay: not available yet
There is no tide station near Cairns Bay, 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 Lymington · 5.8 mi
The sun, moon, solunar periods and spring tides on this page do apply to this place.
The sea at Cairns Bay
Sea stateSea state: moderate
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common3.0 ft
- Significant5.9 ft
- Highest expectedHighest12 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 12 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 12 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Offshore wind. The coast faces east and the wind blows from land out to sea: calm shore and clean waves, but watch the drift out to sea.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves ease over the next few days. The biggest waves arrive on Thursday 29: 6.4 ft with a period of 10 s, from the south-southwest (moderate).
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 (+2.0 °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 9:54 am (local time).
Nearest buoy
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from Australian Ocean Data Network, via the E.U. Copernicus Marine Service. Generated using E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information (doi:10.48670/moi-00036).
Diving in Cairns Bay today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: poor- 5.4 ft swell at 10 s from the south-southwest: strong surge on the bottom
- Light offshore wind (10 mph)
- 0.0 mph current toward the east, weak (model)
- Daylight
- Slack water today: none; the tide doesn't count here
- Likely visibility: poor. Swell (up to 5.6 ft at 10 s) over the last few days has stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 57.7 °F: a 7 mm wetsuit, with hood and booties.
- Snorkeling: better not, with these waves, wind or current.
- Night dive: dark from 8:23 pm. Waning gibbous (89%): a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 6:00 am to 9:00 am, combines light wind and weak current, though with a big swell. Also worth a look from 6:30 pm to 7:50 pm, with light wind and weak current, though with a big swell. Also worth a look from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, with weak current and the sun high, though with a big swell and moderate wind.
We don't have a reliable tide for Cairns Bay, 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
- Huon Point Fish seen: Trachinops caudimaculatus, New Zealand banded wrasse, Blue-throated wrasse, Herring Cale 9.6 mi
- Garden Island west side Fish seen: Trachinops caudimaculatus, Blue-throated wrasse, Senatorwrasse, barber perch 10 mi
- Roaring Beach Fish seen: Long-finned pike, Trachinops caudimaculatus, Blue-throated wrasse, New Zealand banded wrasse 11 mi
- Butts Reef Fish seen: Blue-throated wrasse, barber perch, New Zealand banded wrasse, Trachinops caudimaculatus 11 mi
- Charlotte Cove Light Fish seen: Blue-throated wrasse, Trachinops caudimaculatus, barber perch, Senatorwrasse 11 mi
- Port Esperance Fish Farm2_100m Fish seen: Trachinops caudimaculatus, Ground Mullet, Blue-throated wrasse, New Zealand banded wrasse 11 mi
- Hope Island South Side Fish seen: Trachinops caudimaculatus, New Zealand banded wrasse, Blue-throated wrasse, Dotalabrus aurantiacus 11 mi
- Redcliffs Fish seen: Trachinops caudimaculatus, Blue-throated wrasse, Ground Mullet, New Zealand banded wrasse 11 mi
- Blubber Head Fish seen: Trachinops caudimaculatus, Blue-throated wrasse, Senatorwrasse, Pseudolabrus rubicundus 11 mi
- Port Esperance Fish Farm1 Fish seen: New Zealand banded wrasse, Blue-throated wrasse, Ground Mullet, Grey Leatherjacket 12 mi
- Port Cygnet Marine Conservation Area 6.6 mi
- Randalls Bay Conservation Area 8.9 mi
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). Sites and fish: Reef Life Survey / IMOS NRMN, CC BY 4.0; fish names, Wikidata.
Weather in Cairns Bay
Now in Cairns Bay
- Low / high
- 50 / 62 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 2%
- Clouds
- 85%
- Humidity
- 64%
- Dew pointDew point
- 45 °F
- Visibility
- 15 mi
- UV indexUV
- 2 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Fair · 33
- Saharan dust
- No
Pressure and fishing
- ↗ RisingRising Anglers say fish bite less for a while
- → SteadySteady · now Anglers expect normal activity
- ↘ FallingFalling Anglers say fish feed more before the change
Steady now (+0.01 inHg in 3 hours). Over the next 48 hours: −0.53 inHg. Steady pressure: anglers expect normal activity. 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 | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast | Partly cloudy | Overcast |
| Temperature | 50° | 50° | 51° | 55° | 60° | 62° | 59° | 55° |
| Wind (mph) | 6 WNW | 6 WNW | 6 WNW | 12 WNW | 16 WNW | 16 WNW | 14 WNW | 10 WNW |
| Gusts | 14 | 13 | 15 | 28 | 38 | 38 | 35 | 25 |
| Waves | 6.4 ft | 6.4 ft | 6.3 ft | 6.0 ft | 5.7 ft | 5.5 ft | 5.4 ft | 5.2 ft |
| Rain | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
- 9:00 am 55° 12 WNW 6.0 ft
- 12:00 pm 60° 16 WNW 5.7 ft
- 3:00 pm 62° 16 WNW 5.5 ft
- 6:00 pm 59° 14 WNW 5.4 ft
- 9:00 pm 55° 10 WNW 5.2 ft
- 12:00 am 54° 9 WNW 4.9 ft
- 3:00 am 52° 8 WNW 4.7 ft
- 6:00 am 52° 6 NW 4.5 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 29 | 50 / 62 °F | 16 mph WNW | 6.4 ft | |
| Fri 30 | 49 / 69 °F | 9 mph W | 4.9 ft | |
| Sat 31 | 48 / 71 °F | 14 mph NW | 3.4 ft | |
| Sun 1 | 48 / 59 °F | 11 mph WNW | 4.3 ft | |
| Mon 2 | 48 / 62 °F | 7 mph NW | 3.3 ft | |
| Tue 3 | 44 / 65 °F | 10 mph SSE | 2.8 ft | |
| Wed 4 | 47 / 63 °F | 6 mph WNW | 2.9 ft | |
| Thu 5 | 45 / 62 °F | 7 mph W | 3.2 ft | |
| Fri 6 | 43 / 63 °F | 13 mph NW | 4.5 ft | |
| Sat 7 | 44 / 53 °F | 12 mph W | 5.8 ft | |
| Sun 8 | 40 / 57 °F | 8 mph NNE | 5.4 ft | |
| Mon 9 | 43 / 76 °F | 9 mph NNW | 3.9 ft | |
| Tue 10 | 55 / 67 °F | 4 mph N | 2.2 ft | |
| Wed 11 | 48 / 64 °F | 9 mph NW | 1.9 ft |
- Fri 30 Overcast 49° / 69° 4.9 ft
- Sat 31 Drizzle 48° / 71° 3.4 ft
- Sun 1 Light drizzle 48° / 59° 4.3 ft
- Mon 2 Light drizzle 48° / 62° 3.3 ft
- Tue 3 Overcast 44° / 65° 2.8 ft
- Wed 4 Drizzle 47° / 63° 2.9 ft
- Thu 5 Overcast 45° / 62° 3.2 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 wind on Saturday 31. See the models →
- Outlook The next few weeks look normal for the time of year. See the outlook →
- Normal Today, normal highs for late October (62 °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 9:54 am (local time).
The sun in Cairns Bay
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 4:52 am
- Full dark 9:01 pm
- Civil dawn 5:29 am
- Civil dusk 8:23 pm
- Solar noon 12:56 pm (60° high)
- Daylight 13 h 53 min (+3 min)
- Evening golden hour 7:14 pm
- Full dark 9:01 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,345,439 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Cairns Bay
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,459 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: high- 2:11–4:11 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 2:43–4:43 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 6:56–7:56 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 11:35 pm–12:35 am 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 · 7:29 amNov 2 in 4 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 6:03 pmNov 9 in 11 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 10:48 pmNov 17 in 19 days
- Full moon Wed, Nov 25 · 1:54 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 Cairns Bay
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
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.
Tides near Cairns BayTides nearby
- Port Huon2.1 mi
- Surges Bay2.8 mi
- Castle Forbes Bay3.8 mi
- Brooks Bay4.6 mi
- Lymington5.8 mi
- Police Point6.1 mi
- Cygnet6.2 mi
- Cradoc7.0 mi
- Franklin7.2 mi
- Abels Bay7.7 mi
Cairns Bay at a glance
- Town or city of about 78 people. Coordinates: 43.186° S, 146.959° E.
- It is 28 mi southwest of Hobart, the main place in Tasmania. The sun rises 1 min later and sets 2 min later than in Hobart.
- Its coast faces east.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Port Huon (1.3 mi).
Questions about Cairns BayQuestions
What time is sunset today in Cairns Bay?
At 7:53 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 8:23 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Cairns Bay?
At 5:58 am. First light comes at 4:50 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 89% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 6:03 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 2:11–4:11 am, Minor 6:56–7:56 am, Major 2:43–4:43 pm, Minor 11:35 pm–12:35 am. Today's activity is high.
What's the weather like today in Cairns Bay?
Overcast, from 50 °F to 62 °F, with a moderate breeze from the west-northwest (13 mph) and a 2% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Cairns Bay?
Moderate (Douglas 4): 5.9 ft waves with a period of 10.7 s from the south-southwest. The water is 57.7 °F.
When is the best time to visit Cairns Bay?
The best time to visit Cairns Bay is from January to February: highs of 70 °F, about 8 rainy days a month and 8 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).