West Australian Surf Forecast by Guy Dixon (issued Monday 21st September)

Best Days: Tuesday, Friday

Recap: 

Saturday saw the swell increase late to around 6-8ft across the South West, bigger on dark but options were heavily limited to just the most protected locations by a fresh southerly breeze. Perth and Mandurah were equally as disappointing 2ft surf chopped up by a gusty southerly.

Sunday was the day when it really turned on. We woke to a solid 10-12ft swell groomed by light offshore breezes across the South West. Tow in teams were session on the Margs cam, while the Yallingup cam was also putting on a show. Mandurah was in the 3ft range, slightly smaller at Perth but beautifully clean. It was all over by the early afternoon when winds swung southwesterly and chopped things up.

Today, the surf has continued to pump. The South West was offering 6ft+ sets under moderate offshore breezes while Perth and Mandurah have eased back to the 2ft range (2ft+ at Mandurah), equally clean. We will see the effects of another pulse this afternoon adding another few bigger sets into the mix.

This week (Tuesday 22nd - Friday 25th):

The swell will ease gradually in the coming days off the back of today’s late pulse. Tuesday will see the surf fade back to around 4-6ft, while Perth and Mandurah are likely to hold in the 2ft range. All coasts will be under an east/northeasterly flow early, tending northeasterly throughout the mid-morning before becoming light and variable late.

Unfortunately the outlook for the rest of the week and weekend looks to be fairly dormant with no significant pulses in swell. Instead we will receive gentle ebbs and pulses of surf between 3-5ft for the South West, and 1ft for the Metro stretch as background energy fills in.

Much of Wednesday will be in the 4ft range across the South West. There will be a small amount of energy in the water in the afternoon generated by a poorly aligned northwesterly pre-frontal fetch which has been moving offshore today, however any change in size isn’t likely. Perth and Mandurah are likely to just fade back to 1ft. As for winds, it’s not looking overly special. First up, a moderate northeasterly flow will dominate over the South West and Metro stretch, tending northerly in the afternoon. Perth and Mandurah will ease late, but should still have a few small bumps on top for the late session. Thursday isn’t really worth your time unless you go early. Models suggest an early northerly breeze preceding an west/southwesterly change. Even if you make the most of the early session it’ll likely be small and weak.

The next period pulse will fill in across the South West late on Thursday evening with a subtle increase in size on Friday morning which has been generated throughout yesterday and today by a polar low with 50kt core winds. The surf will rise to around 4-6ft on Friday morning easing through the afternoon. This pulse will fail to provide much energy for Perth and Mandurah, likely just 1-2ft.

A ridge over head should lead to generally light and variable winds for much of Friday morning, preceding and afternoon sea breeze. 

This weekend (Saturday 26th - Sunday 27th):

Another very subtle swell front will impact the South West late on Friday evening maintaining a similar size for Saturday morning, in the 4-5ft range. Sunday morning will see yet a small pulse, but just to continue the fairly benign trend, the surf will only really hold in the 4ft range.

A ridge will continue to dominate throughout Saturday leading to light southerly component winds, before increasing on Sunday and tending southeasterly and eventually easterly.

Hope you made the most of the weekend and today, because the long term is looking pretty slow.