Western Australia Surf Forecast by Steve Shearer (issued Mon 1st May)

Features of the Forecast (tl;dr)

• Smaller Thu with strong S/SE winds
• Moderate sized S/SW swell Fri with strong E/SE winds
• Mod sized leftovers Sat with offshore winds
• Offshore winds Sun with easing swells
• Mod pulse ahead early next week with winds tending E/NE-NE with a front due Wed

Recap

Small but fun surf in the SW with size to 3-5ft yesterday, 3-4ft today, with smaller 2ft surf in Mandurah and 1-2ft in Perth. Conditions have been clean under morning E- E/SE winds and light/late a’noon seabreezes. 

Still some sizey sets on the reefs yesterday 

This week and next week (May5 – May 12)

Tomorrow should be the low point in size for the week with exposed breaks between the Capes in the 3ft range and tiny surf north of Busselton. Winds look to have a little more S in them as a front passing to the south rides a little higher than f/cast. They should still be SE, tending S-SSE during the day.

The front passing to the south will have generated SSW-SW swell due Fri with 6ft sets filling in through the morning between the Capes, smaller 2-3ft in Mandurah and 2ft in Perth. High pressure ridging in below the state sees all day E/SE-E’ly winds with only a late/light seabreeze possible south of Prevelly to Augusta. 

Into the weekend and the offshore flow extends through the weekend supplying groomed surf all day Sat and Sun. Sat will be the biggest day as SW-SSW swell eases back with 5-6ft sets early, easing during the day between the Capes, easing 2-3ft surf in Mandurah, 2ft in Perth.

By Sun we’ll see smaller 3-4ft sets and a small pulse of long range W/SW swell with inconsistent 3ft set, smaller 1-2ft in Mandurah/Perth. Worth hitting up exposed reefs under offshore winds.

Next week, and an active W’ly storm track between 50-55S based around Heard Island sends some moderate SW energy towards WA, before a major front slams the state mid week.

Winds will tend E/NE-NE on Mon and freshen as a trough forms off the West Coast and drifts southwards. An increase in SW swell will see surf build back to 4-5ft between the Capes Mon, smaller 2ft in Mandurah, 1-2ft in Perth.

Winds tend more NNE-N on Tues as the trough drifts south and a front approaches, with a late tilt to the NNW possible. Reinforcing energy to 4-6ft between the Capes will fire up breaks protected from northerly winds. Expect smaller 2-3ft surf in Mandurah, 2ft in Perth.

A major front is expected Wed with large storm surf and longer period SW energy to 8-10ft under fresh W/SW winds.

Surf looks a write off under onshore winds until Fri. But check back on the Fri and we’ll see how it’s shaping up next week.