South Australian Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Friday 9th June)

Best Days: Both coasts Saturday, South Coast Sunday morning onwards

Recap

Tiny waves on the Mid Coast yesterday morning ahead of a slight pulse of swell into the afternoon, reaching 1-1.5ft. The South Coast was small during the morning, with a shallow change ahead of stronger onshore winds from mid-afternoon.

Today a strong and powerful W/SW groundswell has filled in across both coasts with light offshore winds and 3-4ft sets off Middleton on the South Coast (winds have since gone onshore) and 2ft waves on the Mid Coast with offshore winds. We should see 3ft sets on the incoming tide this afternoon across the Mid as winds remain favourable.

This weekend and next week (Jun 10 – 16)

Today's strong W/SW groundswell is due to ease over the coming weekend, slowed on the South Coast by some reinforcing SW energy by less than favourably aligned but persistent pre-frontal W/NW fetches through our swell window.

We should see the South Coast easing from 3-4ft tomorrow morning and 2ft on the Mid Coast.

Conditions are looking good with light local offshore winds due tomorrow morning, with weak afternoon sea breezes, and then N/NW tending W/NW winds Sunday, favouring the South Coast.

A very inconsistent long-range W/SW groundswell is due Monday, keeping Middleton humming around 2ft to sometimes 3ft, while the Mid only looks to be around 1ft. A NW tending SW breeze will favour the South Coast through the morning, with similar sized surf Tuesday under more variable breezes.

Longer term our eyes look towards a strong and powerful SW groundswell due Wednesday afternoon and more so Thursday.

This swell will actually be linked to the large pumping swell seen at Skeleton Bay, with the storm generating this swell drifting south-east from South Africa, into the Southern Ocean before re-intensifying in the Heard Island region.

Various bursts of severe-gale westerly winds will be aimed through our far western swell window, with core wind speeds reaching the storm-force range. One of the final intensifications will see a great fetch produced on top of the already active sea state generated before it, resulting in a large strong SW groundswell event for us.

The long-period forerunners are due to arrive Wednesday morning, with an increase in size through the afternoon to 3-4ft late in the day across Middleton and 1ft+ on the Mid Coast.

A peak is due Thursday down South with inconsistent 4-5ft sets off Middleton, while the Mid Coast should see inconsistent 2ft sets. Winds are looking excellent with a N/NE tending variable breeze Wednesday and fresher but easing N/NW breeze Thursday.

Beyond this there's plenty more swell due into next weekend along with increased consistency, but more on this Monday. Have a great weekend!