While the Brisbane to Sunshine Coast area often provides good flying conditions, there are aviation hazards to consider during every season.
Winds
An afternoon north-easterly sea breeze develops on many days throughout the year, with the strongest occurring during spring and summer. The sea breeze may arrive before lunchtime at YBSU, while at YBAF it usually arrives during the afternoon, 2–3 hours after moving through YBBN. A katabatic southwesterly wind often affects the coastal plain during the evening and early morning hours.
Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms are possible during any season but mostly occur from spring through to early autumn. Severe storms with large hail and strong wind gusts are more likely from October through to December, while thunderstorms with heavy rain and strong wind gusts are more likely after December.
Thunderstorms often move onto the coastal plain off the ranges. At YBAF, look for thunderstorms moving through locations such as Boonah and Amberley, and off the ranges from Toowoomba to Warwick. At YBSU, look for thunderstorms anywhere from Crows Nest north of Toowoomba through to the Jimna ranges.
The most dangerous thunderstorms often occur when a south-easterly change is moving northwards along the coast through the day.
Turbulence
Turbulence occurs mostly in strong westerly winds, with moderate to severe turbulence possible on and in the lee of the ranges. Mountain waves may also occur in the lee of the ranges in a strong westerly.
The northern Lane of Entry into YBAF from Samford to the west of Mount Coot-tha may be particularly prone to turbulence in a westerly.
Low cloud
Broken low cloud develops mostly overnight and early morning in a north-easterly wind. The minima at YBSU is quite high and so fuel holding requirements are more often included on forecasts at YBSU than other TAF locations in south-east Queensland.
Fog
Insignificant shallow fog (MIFG) is a regular occurrence at both YBAF and YBSU and both locations are prone to fully developed fogs, mostly during the cooler months and after rain. The webcam at YBAF, available on the Airservices website, is very useful in observing the current fog conditions at the airport. Fogs that form over the western suburbs of Brisbane may move to the NE along the Brisbane River towards the city.
Fogs that occur in the valleys to the west of the coastal plain, such as near Wivenhoe Dam and the Mary Valley, may persist well into the late morning.
Showers
Persistent showers are most likely in south-easterly trade flow, with a diurnal maximum in shower activity occurring overnight and in the morning.
