Southern Tasmania Surf Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Friday 26th August)

Best Days: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday morning

Recap

Tiny onshore waves yesterday, while today a new long-range SW groundswell has come in as expected with clean 2ft sets across Clifton.

This weekend (Aug 27 - 28)

Today's increase in SW groundswell is due to ease back into tomorrow, with some tiny W/SW swell from a frontal system passing under us due to keep 1-1.5ft sets hitting Clifton.

Sunday's better increase in W/SW swell is still on track, with a relatively weak but persistent polar front moving in from the west the last couple of days expected to kick up 2ft to possibly 3ft surf for Sunday morning, easing into the afternoon.

Conditions will be good over the weekend with a N/NW tending W/NW breeze tomorrow and then W/NW-NW tending variable winds Sunday.

Next week onwards (Aug 29 onwards)

Our strong pulse of S/SW groundswell for later Monday/Tuesday has been downgraded a little and mostly pushed to Tuesday morning.

A vigorous polar front will fire up on the polar shelf the next few days, with a fetch of severe-gale to storm-force W/SW tending SW winds projecting through our southern swell window. This front won't project towards the Tasman Sea now, taking a more zonal approach towards New Zealand.

This has resulted in a slight delay in the timing and size.

Clifton should build later Monday to 2-3ft, with a peak due Tuesday morning to 3ft to possibly 4ft, easing rapidly through the day.

Conditions will be clean with a N/NW tending N/NE breeze, opening up plenty of options.

Smaller surf is due Wednesday around 2ft or so, but another pulse of SW groundswell is due into Thursday, from a more distant but strong pre-frontal fetch of severe-gale to storm-force W/NW winds projecting south-east towards the polar shelf. A good 2ft to maybe 3ft of swell should be seen with W/NW tending S/SW winds. More on this Monday though. Have a great weekend!