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

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Best Days: Friday morning swell magnets in the South West, protected spots later Saturday in the South West, Sunday semi-protected breaks, Monday morning

Recap

Pumping waves yesterday with clean surf to 6ft in the South West, 2-3ft in Perth and Mandurah with offshore winds all morning, lasting a bit longer into the afternoon to the north.

Today the swell was a bit smaller but super clean again with hot offshores that will give into mid-late afternoon sea breezes.

This week through Boxing Day (Dec 22 - 26)

Tomorrow isn't worth worrying about, with a strong onshore change due to develop early tomorrow morning, bringing S/SW winds to all regions. A small to moderate sized SW groundswell is due to build through the day, with a slightly bigger but less consistent W/SW swell due to increase further through Friday.

The morning is due to be around 3-4ft in the South West and 1ft in Perth, increasing to 4-5ft+ and near 2ft on the sets respectively through the afternoon.

Unfortunately onshore sea breezes will be in by then, with morning SE-E/SE winds before the swell really kicks.

Of greater importance is a large SW groundswell due over the weekend.

Currently a vigorous low is developing north of Heard Island and we'll see a fetch of severe-gale to storm-force W/SW winds projected towards us tomorrow before the low stalls and weakens to our south-west.

This will result in a large long-period SW groundswell being generated, with the easing trend softened by the slow stalling and weakening of the low.

Saturday morning is expected to start slow and with a fresh S/SE breeze, but from late morning the groundswell should start to show, building to a large 8ft+ into the evening and 2ft in Perth.

Unfortunately sea breezes will be well and truly in by then, with a late shift back to S/SE winds due around Margs.

Sunday morning should still see easy 6-8ft sets in the South West and 2ft waves around Perth, easing a touch through the day, smaller from 5-6ft and 1-2ft Monday morning.

Winds will be gusty but from the S/SE-SE most of Sunday favouring semi-protected breaks, with a straighter offshore E'ly Boxing Day morning ahead of a SW change.

Next Tuesday onwards (Dec 27 onwards)

Monday's change will be linked to a weakening front moving into us, with it tracking similar to the low generating the weekend's swell but being much weaker.

We should see a moderate sized SW groundswell arriving later Tuesday afternoon, peaking Wednesday morning.

Size wise we're looking at 5-6ft sets in the South West and 1-2ft waves in Perth but with S/SE winds. We'll have another look at this Friday though.