South Australian Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Friday 29th December)

Best Days: South Coast early Saturday, Mid Coast Saturday afternoon, both coasts Sunday morning and Monday morning

Recap

Poor conditions across all locations yesterday with a tiny onshore swell down South and flat conditions on the Mid Coast.

Today a small and inconsistent W/SW groundswell has filled in offering infrequent 0.5-1ft sets on the Mid Coast which have increased in frequency during this morning. It's mainly for beginners though with 1ft peelers in the gulf.

The South Coast also increased slightly but was bumpy early, though conditions cleaned up through the morning as winds tended variable.

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This weekend and next week (Dec 30 – Feb 5)

There's lots of swell on the cards for the coming period, and favourable winds for the most part, which is a big plus.

Firstly tomorrow morning, our secondary pulse of W/SW groundswell from mid-latitude frontal activity south-west of WA should fill in.

The Mid Coast should see good 2ft waves with 2-3ft sets along the Middleton stretch, but this will be overridden into the afternoon/evening by our third pulse of W/SW groundswell.

This is being generated by a strong mid-latitude front that's currently south of the Bight, generating a fetch of strong to near gale-force W/SW winds.

The front will continue east at a similar strength today before pushing across Victoria tomorrow, resulting in a good sized W/SW tending SW groundswell.

We should see the Mid Coast kicking further but the small incoming tide will restrict the size a little. 3ft sets would be more than likely if the tidal push was bigger and later in the day but instead we're probably looking at 2ft+ surf.

Middleton should kick to a strong 3-4ft later in the day but conditions will be average as an early W-W/NW breeze swings SW. The Mid Coast will see improving conditions as a fresh morning W/SW breeze swings SW and abates slowly.

As we move into Sunday we should see winds tend variable (light W/NW across the South Coast) creating clean conditions with good amounts of easing swell.

Middleton should ease slowly from 3ft+, while the Mid Coast should see fun 2ft+ sets.

A temporary low point in surf is due Monday morning, but we've got a good reinforcing SW groundswell due into the afternoon.
This will be produced by a broad and elongated fetch of pre-frontal W/NW winds under the country over the weekend, followed by a weaker post-frontal W/SW fetch.

Middleton is expected to build back to 3ft+ through the afternoon Monday, while the Mid Coast looks to hang around 1-1.5ft, with similar sized and easing surf Tuesday.

Winds should be OK with an early light W/NW breeze due on the South Coast before shifting SW, while the Mid Coast may see variable winds through the morning.

Tuesday looks a little less favourable with lingering SW winds down South, and a light S/SE'ly on the Mid, but we'll have to review this again Monday. Have a great New Year!