Western Australia Surf Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Wednesday 15th February)

Best Days: Margs tomorrow, Perth later Friday and Saturday, Margs Friday through Sunday

Recap

A continuation of poor surf with no decent swell yesterday or today.

This week and weekend (Feb 16 - 19)

After the poor run of surf this week, all eyes are on the pulses of groundswell due over the coming days, and especially the larger S/SW swell event.

The front responsible for the first swell tomorrow (from the SW) is now moving under the country, and we should see the South West build to 4-5ft through tomorrow afternoon, with 1-1.5ft sets in Perth late, easing back a touch Friday morning.

Of greater importance is the large S/SW groundswell for Friday afternoon.

The intense polar low that's being slung from the Heard Island region, up towards us has been generating winds in the storm-force range, but we're now seeing severe-gales being produced through our southern swell window.

With the persistent strong winds speeds, the swell periods with this swell will be quite long and the swell powerful, with it arriving early Friday morning and building strongly mid-late morning ahead of a peak into the afternoon/evening.

Margs should build to a strong 10ft on the sets Friday afternoon, peaking overnight and easing from 6-8ft Saturday morning.

Perth should kick late in the day to 2ft (2-3ft Mandurah), easing from a similar size Saturday morning.

Looking at the expected winds and a moderate to fresh SE'ly is due tomorrow morning, stronger from the S/SE into the afternoon. Friday looks great with an E/SE offshore through the morning, more SE through the afternoon and then straight offshore E'ly tending variable Saturday.

As the swell continues to ease Sunday a morning E/NE'ly is due ahead of sea breezes.

Next week onwards (Feb 20 onwards)

The swell will bottom out on Monday but with onshore winds from a weak approaching trough.

A couple of large SW groundswells are due through the middle to end of the week though from back to back polar fronts pushing up and into us later in the weekend and early next week. We'll look at this closer on Friday though.