Southern Tasmania Surf Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Friday 2nd October)

Best Days: Later today, Saturday morning, Monday morning for beginners, Tuesday, Wednesday

Recap

Wednesday’s strong S/SE groundswell eased through yesterday but there were still good sets on offer across the more exposed breaks in the South Arm. Today the swell is around to the W and on the tiny side but good for beginners. Keep an eye out for a new swell later today.

This weekend and next week (Oct 3 - 9)

Later yesterday’s and this morning’s small pulse of W’ly swell will be followed up by a couple of secondary pulses over the coming days.

Later today, the second and most consistent is due to fill in, produced by pre-frontal W/NW gales, followed by post-frontal W’ly gales. This is passing across us today and we should see Clifton building to 2ft late today, easing from a similar size tomorrow morning.

A less consistent W/SW groundswell should keep 1-2ft waves hitting Clifton Sunday, produced by a more distant and slow moving fetchy of strong to gale-force W/SW winds the last couple of days, south-west of WA.

Conditions should be good tomorrow morning with a light N/NW offshore, shifting S/SE later morning with sea breezes. Sunday is still looking dicey with a trough lingering in the region, bringing light SE winds at dawn, strengthening from the E/SE through the day and swinging S/SW.

Monday morning should become cleaner as winds shift W/NW but the surf will be tiny.

Into Tuesday/Wednesday a good new W/SW tending SW groundswell is due from a healthy polar front firing up south of WA Saturday evening. An initial fetch of W/SW gales will be generated in our western swell window, moving more into our south-western swell window Monday afternoon while passing under us.

As a result a mix of W/SW groundswell and mid-period SW energy is due on Tuesday, building to 3ft to possibly 4ft and winds look favourable and W/NW early, with weak sea breezes. Wednesday will be great as the swell eases, while following this there’s nothing too major on the cards. More on this Monday. Have a great weekend!