Western Australia Surf Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Wednesday 30th December)

Best Days: Thursday protected spots in the South West, Friday in the South West, exposed breaks in the South West Sunday and Monday

Recap

A strong kick in SW groundswell was seen across the coast yesterday with 6ft+ sets in the South West but along with poor and strong S/SW winds, while Perth and Mandurah were cleaner early and offering small 1-2ft sets.

Today the surf was much smaller with average S/SE winds across most spots.

This week and weekend (Dec 31 – Jan 3)

The easing trend in swell should be halted into tomorrow with the arrival of a reinforcing SW swell. Exposed breaks in the South West should offer 4-5ft sets with the chance of the odd bigger bomb, while Perth and Mandurah are due to hold around 1ft+.

Better but strong SE winds are due tomorrow, likely tending E/SE across Perth and possibly veering that way at times in the South West. But semi-protected locations will continue to offer the best conditions.

Friday should see straighter E/SE winds again with strength as the SW swell eases from 3-4ft or so in the South West and 1ft around Perth.

Saturday morning is expected to start out small and clean with offshore E'ly winds, ahead of a slight kick in new SW groundswell through the day. 3-4ft sets are due to develop across the South West before easing back into Sunday morning as favourable winds continue.

Another small SW groundswell is due later Sunday and into Monday across the region from background frontal activity through the Southern Ocean.

Monday should offer inconsistent 3-5ft sets with no real size in Perth above 1ft. Clean conditions will continue through the morning, while Tuesday and Wednesday may see average S/SE breezes kicking in again.

The best swell of the week is due Wednesday, generated by a strong but distant polar low firing up west of Madagascar and weakening as it pushes closer to us through the weekend.

Inconsistent but good 4-6ft sets are due as the swell peaks Wednesday afternoon, with 1ft+ sets around Perth, fading through Thursday.

Longer term we may see a better long-range SW groundswell into the following weekend, but more on this Friday.