Western Australia Surf Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Wednesday 19th April)

Best Days: Thursday morning, Friday morning, Saturday protected spots, Sunday morning, each morning next week in the South West

Recap

A large and powerful arrived yesterday morning across the state, building rapidly to 8-10ft in the South West by mid-morning, larger through the day before easing off steadily mid-late afternoon. Conditions were good all morning and into the early afternoon. Mandurah saw clean 2-3ft surf, with building 2ft waves around Perth.

Into this morning there was hardly any swell left at all on the coast with 4ft sets across Margs, 2ft further to the north around Mandurah and Perth.

This week and weekend (Mar 20 – 23)

Later today some new W/SW swell energy is due across the coast, peaking tomorrow morning. This has been generated by a strong mid-latitude front approaching from the west-southwest, with the system now clearing to our south-east.

Good 6-8ft sets are due across the South West reefs tomorrow morning with 2-3ft surf in Mandurah and 2ft+ waves up in Perth. With the front clearing to the south-east, conditions should be great with light E/NE offshores across Margs and Perth with sea breezes developing from early afternoon.

Friday morning will be smaller as we fall between swells and a light E/SE offshore will create good conditions before winds swing onshore late morning.

From mid-morning though some new W/SW energy will build, the first of two swells due across the state (the second for Saturday). These swells are being generated by back to back strong mid-latitude fronts firing up through our western swell window. The second front will be stronger and moving over the active sea state created by the first, producing a larger swell for Saturday.

During Friday though Margs should build upwards of 6ft through the afternoon, with the larger pulse for Saturday coming in at 8-10ft. Mandurah should see 3ft sets, with 2-3ft waves around Perth.

Winds won't be ideal but good for protected spots with a gusty S/SE breeze across most locations (tending SE up in Perth).

Gusty SE winds will continue Sunday as the swell eases back from the 6ft range around Margs and 2ft+ further north.

Longer term there's nothing too major on the cards for us with with small to moderate swells for next week but with favourable winds. We'll have another look at this Friday.