Eastern Tasmania Surf Forecast by Steve Shearer (issued Wed May 11th)

Features of the Forecast (tl;dr)

• Increase in E/NE to NE swell Thurs/Fri
• Fun waves Sat, but with S'ly winds
• Small and clean Sun
• Mostly small and clean next week until S swell Fri

Recap

Tiny waves over the last 36-48 hrs with a light W’ly flow, now tending NE through today.

This week and next (May 11 - 16)

A large 1037 hPa high is occupying the Central Tasman Sea with a solid ridge established along most of the East Coast. A long interior trough and developing trough/low off the North QLD coast are tightening the pressure gradient along most of the ridge, bringing fresh onshore winds and a deep E’ly pattern to the majority of Tasman Sea and Central/Southern Coral Sea. A trough forms a surface low later today off the NQLD coast, drifting south through Thurs and Friday before fading out and tracking back NE towards New Caledonia.

NE swell from the bottom end of the fetch is now looking a bit weaker and less persistent for East Coast Tasmania (see below)

NE fetch a bit weaker and less productive

The short run sees small surf Thurs before increasing NE swell on Fri as the high shifts out into the middle of the Tasman Sea and increasing NE winds develop off the NSW S coast. Expect surf to build into the 3ft range during the day although a small troughy feature off the coast brings a S’ly wind.

Size eases back Sat but with fun 2-3ft waves on offer, and winds switching back to the NW to N during the day.

That size dips further into the 1-2ft range Sun but with light winds there should be small, surfable options on offer. 

More small surf is on the cards for next week, as weak high pressure occupies the Tasman. 

Zonal fronts bring a W’ly flow through most days next week. 

By Friday a stronger low is expected to pass by the state, bringing a pulse of S swell in the 3ft range but with S’ly winds.

Check back Fri for the latest.