Western Australia Surf Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Monday 21st December)

Best Days: Swell magnets in the South West tomorrow morning, Wednesday morning, Friday protected spots both coasts, Saturday morning both coasts

Recap

Plenty of swell left across the South West Saturday but with poor winds, while further north it was tiny and bumpy.

A good new pulse of S/SW groundswell offered fun 4-6ft sets across swell magnets Sunday morning with offshore winds before fading rapidly during the day, becoming small to tiny this morning. The direction of the swell wasn't good for Perth with tiny clean 0.5-1ft sets on offer.

This week (Dec 21 - 25)

A slow rise in inconsistent background SW groundswell is due through tomorrow across the South West, building from 2-3ft early to 3-4ft into the afternoon. Morning offshores will give into an afternoon sea breeze, so hit up exposed breaks before lunch.

Of greater importance is our prolonged SW groundswell event as a strong polar low stalls to our south-west under the influence of the Long Wave Trough.

The low has already formed, with satellite observations picking up a fetch of severe-gale to storm-force W/SW winds in our swell window.

From today the low will remain in the same position and weaken slightly before projecting north-east towards us Wednesday evening and Thursday.

What will result is a less consistent but strong long-period SW groundswell for Wednesday, building from 5-6ft through the morning to a solid 6-8ft+ during the afternoon.

Perth will be tiny early but should kick to an inconsistent and good 2ft into the afternoon.

Similar if not slightly smaller surf is due into Thursday morning, with Friday seeing the more consistent SW swell filling in from the front pushing up and into us.

Another strong kick to 6-8ft+ is due through Friday afternoon in the South West (a bit smaller early), with Perth kicking to 2ft+ into the afternoon.

Coming back to the conditions Wednesday, and an E/NE offshore, tending variable and then with weakish sea breezes in the South West.

Thursday looks dicey with fresh S/SW winds across all locations, improving Friday for protected spots with a fresh S/SE'ly (SE likely around Perth).

As the swell eases Saturday good offshore E/NE winds are due with dropping 5-6ft+ sets in the South West and 2ft waves around Perth.

Longer term there's some moderate sized SW pulses due next week, but more on this Wednesday.