Victorian Surf Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Friday 23rd June)

Best Days: Sunday selected spots, Friday next week Surf Coast, Saturday week Surf Coast

Features of the Forecast (tl;dr)

• Fading surf tomorrow with strong N-N/NE winds
• Small-moderate sized, inconsistent W/SW groundswell for Sun with strengthening N winds, tending N/NW into the PM
• Weak small-moderate sized W/SW swell Mon with strong W/NW tending W winds
• Easing surf Tue with gusty W/NW-NW winds
• Moderate sized mid-period SW swell building Wed PM with W/NW tending S winds, peaking Thu with SW tending W/SW winds
• Moderate sized S/SW swell Fri AM, easing with W/NW winds
• Easing surf Sat with gusty W/NW tending SW winds

Recap

The surf faded back in size yesterday, tiny on the Surf Coast with small waves on the exposed beaches to the east for the desperate.

Today, an inconsistent mid-period W/SW swell has filled in with 1-2ft sets on the Surf Coast magnets with favourable winds for the beaches, 2-3ft to the east. Winds will hold from the N'th until early-mid afternoon before shifting W/NW later.

Fun waves on the exposed beaches today

This weekend and next week (Jun 24 - 30)

The weekend will be one of two halves, with tomorrow being small to tiny as today's swell fades under strong N-N/NE winds that will hold most of the day.

The Surf Coast will be tiny and the exposed beaches to the east 1-2ft max for the desperate.

Sunday looks better but slow as a good pulse of inconsistent W/SW groundswell fills in and peaks. This swell has originated from a similar location to today's, that being south-west of Western Australia, but from a stronger, broader fetch of strong to gale-force W/SW winds.

There'll be a wait for the sets, like today's swell but the Surf Coast should see 2-3ft sets on the magnets with 4-5ft waves to the east.

Winds look to strengthen from the N tending N/NW on Sunday, favouring selected spots, with a shift in winds to the W/NW on Monday as a strong but weakening mid-latitude low pushes in from the west.

No significant swell is due from this low with a weak localised W/SW windswell due to maintain weaker 2-3ft sets on the Surf Coast and 3-5ft waves to the east.

Of more interest is a stronger Southern Ocean frontal progression being brought up behind the mid-latitude low, with a pre-frontal fetch of strong to near gale-force W/NW winds due to be followed by similar strength, post-frontal W/SW-SW winds.

The swell will be mid-period in nature and moderate in size but from a good SW tending S/SW angle, building Wednesday afternoon and peaking Thursday. Weaker follow up frontal activity should maintain fun sized surf into Friday and Saturday before easing Sunday.

At this stage, size wise the Surf Coast should offer fun 3-4ft waves (4ft magnets) Thursday and Friday morning, with 5-6ft sets to the east, but winds will be dicey as a small high moves in behind the frontal activity Wednesday.

A dawn W/NW breeze is due to shift S'ly later morning Wednesday with SW tending W/SW winds on Thursday as the next front starts to move in. Friday looks the pick with gusty W/NW winds likely, similar Saturday morning ahead of a SW change.

This wind outlook is still a little divergent so check back here on Monday for a clearer idea. Longer term it looks like the next episode of frontal activity will move in through the first week of July, but we'll have a closer look at this next week. Have a great weekend!