South Australian Forecast (issued Friday 21st August)

Best Days: Saturday on the Mid and exposed spots down South, Wednesday and early Thursday for keen surfers down South

Recap

Tiny clean waves yesterday morning, with the expected increase in strong S/SW groundswell coming in below expectations with small 2-3ft or so surf showing across exposed breaks into the afternoon as winds remained favourable.

The swell dropped overnight leaving tiny clean waves into this morning down South. The Mid Coast is seeing a building W/SW swell but with onshore winds.

This weekend and next week (Aug 22 - 28)

This afternoon's building W/SW swell across the Mid is due to a weak fetch of W/SW winds being aimed through the Bight today. This swell should peak tomorrow to 1-2ft and ease later in the day. Conditions will improve as well with a morning NW breeze due to tend lighter and more variable through the day.

The South Coast will be clean for most of the day but tiny with inconsistent 1-2ft waves at Middleton and 2ft+ sets at Waits and Parsons.

Sunday will be similar with background levels of small swell and an early E/NE'ly ahead of a stronger S/SE'ly into the afternoon. The Mid will be clean but tiny.

Our average outlook through next week is still on target, but winds are due to become better from Wednesday and a strong new S/SW groundswell fills in.

Before this though strong SE winds Monday and Tuesday will create poor conditions so its worth giving these days a miss.

Come Wednesday winds should swing more E'ly (possibly even E/NE) as the strong S/SW groundswell fills in.

This groundswell will be generated by a vigorous and multi-stage polar frontal progression moving in over the weekend and early next week.

A moderate to large S/SW groundswell should be produced, building strongly Wednesday and reaching 3-5ft across Middleton into the afternoon with 6ft sets at Waits and Parsons. The E'ly breeze will create workable but less than desirable conditions though.

Thursday will see the swell with possible variable winds early, returning to the S/SE through the day.

Longer term we've got some better cleaner SW groundswell due into Sunday/Monday week, but we'll have another look at this on Monday though. Have a great weekend!