South Australian Surf Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Friday December 15th)

Best Days: South Coast Sunday, Mid Coast for bigger boards Sunday, South Coast Monday ahead of the late change, Mid Coast for the keen Wednesday morning (low expectations)

Features of the Forecast (tl;dr)

• Small Sat with W/NW tending W/SW-SW winds
• Moderate sized mid-period W/SW-SW swell Sun with N/NE tending SE winds (E/NE on the Mid, tending S/SW)
• Easing swell Mon with N-N/NE tending N-N/NW winds ahead of a late PM, strong SW change
• Moderate + sized SW groundswell building Tue, peaking in the PM with strong S tending S/SW winds
• Easing swell Wed with gusty S/SE-SE winds
• Smaller Thu with SE tending S/SE winds

Recap

Easing surf with clean conditions in protected spots was seen down South yesterday morning, while a tiny windswell developed across the Mid Coast to 1ft, with this morning seeing small, fun waves for the keen continuing down South with variable winds. The Mid Coast was holding 1ft for the desperate.

Small, lumpy waves for the keen down South today

This weekend and next week (Dec 16 - 22)

The weekend ahead looks fun, especially Sunday with a new mid-period W/SW-SW swell with favourable winds.

Tomorrow looks to be a low point in energy and with W/NW winds, options will be limited, shifting SW into the afternoon.

Come Sunday though, a moderate sized W/SW-SW swell is due, generated by a healthy front passing under the country today. It looks a touch stronger again than forecast earlier in the week and this should produce a fun kick to 3ft to occasionally 4ft across the Middleton stretch with the Mid Coast now looking at surf to 1-1.5ft. There's the chance for the odd bigger one on the favourable parts of the tide and local winds look great, light N/NE on the South Coast, E/NE in the gulf before sea breezes kick in but with no major strength.

The South Coast will be the pick Monday as the swell eases back from 2-3ft under N/NE-NE tending N-N/NW winds ahead of an approaching trough, bringing a strong SW change late afternoon.

This trough will be associated with our stronger swell producer for Tuesday moving in under the country.

The polar low linked to it, formed around the Heard Island yesterday and is now generating a tight fetch of severe-gale to at times storm-force W/SW winds. The low will continue east-northeast while weakening this evening and more so tomorrow while pushing under the country.

A moderate + sized W/SW-SW groundswell is due from this source on Tuesday, possibly a little undersized early but peaking into the afternoon.

Unfortunately strong S'ly winds will be see in the wake of Monday's change, creating poor conditions down South and choppy waves on the Mid.

Building sets to 4-5ft+ are due down South, 1-2ft on the Mid Coast but with strong, afternoon S/SW winds, easing slowly Wednesday from 4ft and 1ft to possibly 2ft with gusty S/SE-SE winds.

Into the end of the week, the surf will ease and unfavourable SE winds are due to persist across the South Coast Thursday with some poor, localised S/SE windswell, lighter Friday morning but small and weak. Therefore make the most of Sunday and Monday. Have a great weekend!