Southern Tasmania Surf Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Friday 14tth August)

Best Days: Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning, later Monday protected spots, Tuesday morning protected spots, Wednesday onwards

Recap

Tiny start to yesterday but a strong new SW groundswell pulsed into the afternoon with winds tending back to the W/NW, creating good conditions for the late surf.

This morning the swell was still in the 2-3ft range, and a reinforcing W/SW swell should keep 2ft sets hitting Clifton into the afternoon as winds remain favourable.

This weekend and next week (Aug 15 - 21)

Tomorrow morning will start slow and probably in the 1-2ft range but a good new W/SW groundswell is due through the day, peaking to 3ft into the afternoon and then easing back from 2ft+ Sunday morning.

Conditions look great all weekend with NW tending variable breezes Saturday and then all day NW winds Sunday.

Monday's swell has now been upgraded, with the vigorous polar low pushing up and into us due to produce a fetch of gale to severe-gale W/SW winds followed by severe-gale SW winds early Monday morning.

This will produce a large W/SW tending SW groundswell for Monday, building from 3-4ft during the morning to 5-6ft later in the afternoon with fresh and gusty W/SW tending SW breezes.

The low generating the swell will move off fairly quickly to the east overnight, but a good trailing fetch of S/SW winds projected up towards us will produce a reinforcing S/SW swell for Tuesday morning. Clifton should still offer 4ft sets before easing back to 3ft through the day and then down from 2ft Wednesday morning.

Winds will remain best for protected spots with a W/SW tending S/SW breeze Tuesday (slim chance of early W'ly) and then swing back offshore Wednesday morning.

Another good pulse of S/SW groundswell is due Thursday as a strong polar frontal system fires up to our south-west next week.

This should produce a good 3ft of S/SW groundswell for Thursday under morning N/NW winds and possible weak sea breezes. After this there's nothing too major on the cards but we'll review this again Monday. Have a great weekend!