Eastern Tasmania Surf Forecast by Steve Shearer (issued Mon February 21st)

Features of the Forecast (tl;dr)

• Small S swell Tues
• Longer period S swell Wed PM, easing Thurs
• Fun NE windswell Wed with NE winds, extending into Thurs with good winds AM
• Small S swell Fri
• Close range SE to E/SE swell Sat, easing Sun
• Another round of close range SE to E/SE swell from Tues next week, extending into Wed

Recap

Continuing tiny levels of windswell, not exceeding 1ft over the weekend and today. 

This week and next week (Feb 21 - Mar5)

Slightly better news this week with more action ahead. A front passing to the S of Tasmania overnight looks a bit stronger than Friday’s f/cast notes.

That should see surf pop up into the 2-3ft range at S facing beaches with winds quickly swinging from S/SW through var, to E/NE as a new high pressure ridge builds east of the state.

A deep compact low associated with the front has a gale force fetch associated with it as intensifies under the state. This will see a brief pulse of longer period S swell arriving Wed PM, on the 2-3ft range, easing Thurs.

The N to NE flow from this high moving into the Tasman also looks more persistent with NE windswell expected to build Wed into the 3ft range and hang in Thurs in the 2-3ft range. Expect mod/fresh NE winds Wed, with a S’ly change Thursday quickly tending S/SE through the day. Early NW winds before the change offer the best window of conditions for the NW windswell.

Another troughy change Fri sees a proximate fetch of S to SE winds quickly rebuild wave heights from the same direction but don’t expect much quality with winds from the S/SE.

The weekend will have waves, albeit of low quality, as the trough stretches out and SE to E/SE winds feeding into the bottom of the trough are well aimed at NE Tasmania. 

That should see surf build into the 3ft range Sat, with onshore winds from the SE. 

This swell source slowly fades away through Sunday.

Into next week and another trough forms a small surface low E of the Island on Tues. With a proximate fetch aimed at Tasmania we’ll see surf build into the 2-3ft range Tues and extend at slightly higher levels Wed, possibly tending more E’ly in direction.

Longer term and the small trough/low looks quite slow moving suggesting surf holding at small but fun levels into Wed/Thurs of next week, and tending more NE in swell direction.

Check back Wed for a fresh update.