The Gold Coast often provides good flying conditions, but there are aviation hazards to consider during every season.
Winds
An afternoon easterly sea breeze develops on many days throughout the year, with the strongest occurring during Spring and Summer. A katabatic south-westerly 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 storms with heavy rain and strong wind gusts are more likely after December. Thunderstorms often move onto the coastal plain off the ranges in both New South Wales and Queensland. Look for thunderstorms moving through locations such as Murwillumbah in northern NSW or Lamington National Park and Springbrook in the Gold Coast hinterland. The most dangerous thunderstorms often occur when a southeasterly change is moving northwards along the coast.
Turbulence
Turbulence occurs mostly in strong westerly winds, with moderate to severe turbulence possible on and in the lee of the ranges over northern NSW and the Gold Coast. Mountain waves may also occur in the lee of the ranges.
Severe turbulence sometimes occurs in the vicinity of YBCG in very strong westerly winds due to the development of a rotor, presenting as a weak north-easterly wind at YBCG while at the same time a strong west-south-westerly is observed at the Gold Coast Seaway automatic weather station (AWS).
Low cloud
Broken low cloud develops mostly overnight and early morning during a northeasterly wind, often banking up to the north of the ranges inland from the Gold Coast. However, over northern NSW, this usually occurs with a south to south-easterly wind.
Fog
Fully developed fog (FG) does not occur often about the Gold Coast, even in the cooler months but does occur regularly over northern NSW. Shallow fog patches (MIFG) can occur overnight and early morning during the cooler months at YBCG; however, the AWS may often misreport this as FG.
Showers
Persistent showers are most likely to occur during south-easterly trade winds, with maximum shower activity occurring overnight and in the morning.