South Australian Forecast (issued Wednesday 4th March)

Best Days: Thursday on the Mid for keen surfers, early Friday both coasts, early Saturday South Coast, Sunday morning South Coast, Monday morning South Coast

Recap

The Mid started slow yesterday but kicked in size to 1-1.5ft through the day with a building SW groundswell under cross-shore S'ly winds. The South Coast was average with onshore winds, but a kick in size through the afternoon offered workable waves for keen surfers.

Today the swell was holding a good size across the South Coast with early W/NW winds favouring breaks around Victor and Middleton, while the Mid was a clean 1-1.5ft with variable breezes. Winds swung back onshore mid-late morning creating average conditions for the rest of the day.

This week (Mar 5 – Mar 6)

Yesterday's and this morning's pulse of SW swell was the first in a series of swells due over the coming period.

Into tomorrow a stronger increase in S/SW swell is due through the day followed by a smaller reinforcing pulse later Friday and early Saturday.

These swells are being generated by a strong polar front projecting up into Vicco today and tomorrow, generating fetches of strong to gale-force SW winds over an already active sea state in our southern swell window.

Middleton should kick to 4-5ft through the day tomorrow with 6ft+ at Waits and Parsons while the Mid should see 1-1.5ft waves continuing with 2ft sets due on the incoming tide through the afternoon.

A drop in size is then due Friday from 3-5ft at Middleton and 6ft or so at Waits while the Mid should drop from 1-1.5f.

Now, winds tomorrow will be poor for the South Coast and strong but easing from the S/SW, while the Mid will offer cleaner conditions with a S/SE tending S'ly breeze.

Friday morning looks better down South with an early W/NW'ly for Victor Harbor and good conditions in semi-protected spots before tending SW mid-late morning. The Mid should see a S'ly early creating workable conditions.

This weekend onwards (Mar 7 onwards)

The weekend is looking fun down South, especially Sunday morning with smaller amounts of swell, but still solid waves across exposed breaks.

Winds are expected to play out similar to Friday with an early W/NW'ly Saturday and dropping 3-4ft wave at Middleton and 4-5ft+ at Waits and Parsons, with tiny 1ft sets on the Mid.

Sunday should be more manageable for experienced surfers west of Victor with a morning NW breeze and 3ft waves at Middleton and 3-5ft sets out at Waits and Parsons.

Possible later Sunday but more so Monday a new SW groundswell is due across the state, produced by a strong polar front swinging in from the Indian Ocean, generating a fetch of gale to severe-gale W/SW tending SW winds.

This should come in at a good 3-4ft across Middleton with 5ft sets at Waits and Parson, while the Mid is due to remain tiny. Winds are looking average though with an onshore change Sunday afternoon due to linger into Monday. We'll have a closer look at this on Friday though.