Southern Tasmanian Surf Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Friday December 15)

Best Days: Tomorrow, Sunday morning, Monday morning for beginners, Thursday morning for beginners

Features of the Forecast (tl;dr)

• Small mix of mid-period SW swell Sat, more consistent out of the W/SW Sun
• N/NW tending stronger W/NW winds tomorrow, W/SW-W into the PM
• N/NW winds ahead of sea breezes Sun and Mon
• Moderate sized W/SW groundswell building Tue with a strong SW tending S/SW change, easing Wed with fresh W/SW-SW winds
• Fading swell Thu with variable winds ahead of sea breezes

Recap

Nice clean conditions with 2ft of swell yesterday morning ahead of a stronger pulse of new energy into the afternoon as winds shifted more west and strengthened.

The swell eased back this morning but was still a fun 2ft.

This weekend and next week (Dec 16 - 22)

The weekend ahead will offer small fun waves with a mix of mid-period swells due, the first tomorrow from the SW, with a secondary W/SW pulse for Sunday which looks more consistent and a touch stronger.

2ft sets are due tomorrow, more consistent on Sunday and a N/NW wind will shift W/NW tomorrow and strengthen, shifting W/SW-W into the afternoon, with Sunday seeing N/NW offshores ahead of S/SE sea breezes.

Smaller, easing surf from 1-1.5ft is due on Monday with N/NW winds ahead of sea breezes.

Into Tuesday, our inconsistent W/SW groundswell is on track, generated by a strong polar low that formed around the Heard Island region yesterday and has since been generating a fetch of severe-gale to at times storm-force W/SW winds.

The low will weaken while tracking up under the Bight over the coming days, with the groundswell arriving Tuesday, peaking into the afternoon to a slow 2-3ft.

Unfortunately a trough will bring strong SW tending S/SW winds from dawn on Tuesday, creating poor conditions, with Wednesday seeing W/SW tending SW winds as the swell eases.

Variable winds may be seen Thursday morning but with tiny fading surf. Late week a new mid-period swell may be seen with NE winds but we'll have a closer look at this on Monday. Have a great weekend!