Eastern Tasmania Surf Forecast by Steve Shearer (issued Mon 3rd April)

Features of the Forecast (tl;dr)

• Nice spike in S swell Thurs with winds tending NE
• S swell easing Fri wth NE windswell building
• NE windswell holds into Sat AM before easing with good winds early before a strong S’ly
• Large S swell Sun, easing Mon with winds becoming light

Recap

A small spike in S swell Sat provided some surfable 2ft waves at S facing beaches under an offshore flow. Sunday dropped right back to tiny and surf has continued at that size into today with a variable flow now tending N’ly. 

This week and next week (Apr3 - Apr14)

High pressure in the Tasman right now is forming a weak ridge over Tasmania with a light W’ly flow from an approaching front and trough to the S. As the front passes through the lower Tasman we’ll see winds tend S’ly then NE as a new high moves into the Tasman Wed/Thurs.

In the short run not much action expected with only tiny surf for the opening days of this week. 

The first swell of note this week will be from the S as the parent low traversing the lower Tasman sends a nice pulse of S swell Thurs. That should see size in the 3-4ft range at S facing beaches with winds tending NE as the new high moves NE of the Island.

S swell then eases Good Friday and gets replaced by building NE windswell as the high develops a fetch of N/NE winds off the NSW Coast (see below) and pressure gradients are tightened by an approachin mid latitude low. Expect easing S swell and NE windswell building to 3-4ft on Good Friday. Winds from the N may tend NW through the day as the low approaches.

Source of NE windswell Good Friday

NE windswell persists into Sat morning in the 3-4ft range with winds tending W’ly before a stiff S’ly blow as the mid-latitude low moves E of the Island with a deep S’ly fetch accompanying it. Swells from the NE ease through the day, with a new S swell expected to build either later Sat or Sun depending on timing.

This new S swell should be sizey with an initial estimate in the 6-8ft range through Sun under fresh S’ly winds, easing through the day.

Into next week and S swell eases away as the low and fetch contract Eastwards- that should see fun but easing S swell Easter Mon and then a couple of very quiet days in between swells. 

Troughiness and another approaching frontal system and potential mid-latitude low  will be watched later next week. Generally speaking it does look like a much more active phase of Autumn is about to begin after a mellow start to the season.

Check back in Wed for the latest.