Western Australia Surf Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Friday 17th December)

Best Days: Swell magnets in the South West Sunday morning, protected spots Wednesday and Thursday, Friday morning in the South West

Recap

Good waves across the South West yesterday with a new mid-period SW swell and offshore winds, only small to tiny further north. Today the swell has eased and with less favourable winds, creating average conditions only for the desperate.

This weekend and next week (Dec 18 - 24)

Tomorrow looks like a lay day as the swell continues to ease in size, bottoming out ahead of a new mid-period SW swell into the afternoon, easing slowly Sunday.

Winds tomorrow morning will be better than today, tending more SE ahead of sea breezes, and the swell looks only to 3ft early, building to 3-4ft+ into the afternoon, easing from a similar size Sunday morning across the South West. This swell looks tiny for Mandurah and Perth.

Winds on Sunday morning will be favourable and offshore from the E/SE, giving into afternoon sea breezes.

Monday then doesn't look to flash with the swell easing with less favourable S/SE winds.

Moving into the middle of the week, and out large new SW groundswell but onshore winds are still on track.

A strong low has formed south-east of South Africa, with a fetch of gale-force W/SW winds due to move through our swell window today and tomorrow, weakening once passing the Heard Island region but continuing east and under us early next week.

A large, long-period and slightly inconsistent SW groundswell is due off this storm, with a slight upgrade from Wednesday's size. It's due to arrive on dark Tuesday but peak Wednesday to 6-8ft across the South West, with the chance of the odd bigger cleanup, 2-3ft in Mandurah and 2ft across Perth.

Unfortunately winds will shift onshore Tuesday from the SW, and persist out of the S/SW-S on Wednesday. In saying this protected locations should offer a wave for the keen. Thursday is looking a touch better with a morning S/SE breeze as the swell eases, cleaner Friday as it continues to ease.

Longer term there's nothing significant on the cards as a large blocking high moves in from the west, but more on this Monday. Have a great weekend!