Western Australian Surf Forecast (issued Wed 23rd Apr)

Western Australia Surf Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Wednesday 23rd of April)

Best Days: Thursday morning, Saturday morning, Monday in protected locations, Tuesday morning

Recap

Exposed spots across the state offered good waves yesterday morning with offshore winds and dropping swell, while today was average across most spots with less than ideal winds and small swell.

A new swell has since started to build across the state, but tomorrow will offer a better opportunity to surf.

This week and weekend (Apr 23 - 27)

Today's swell will ease slowly through tomorrow and further into Friday and the weekend but tomorrow morning will offer the best waves with a morning offshore E'ly breeze, while Friday will see average S/SE winds as a change moves through. Saturday should see an offshore developing again from the E/NE but the swell will be small.

Sunday will be a day to miss as an onshore change moves through, linked to a large and powerful SW groundswell discussed below.

Next Monday onwards (Apr 28 onwards)

As touched on last update, a large and powerful SW groundswell is due Monday next week and winds are looking a little more favourable now.

This will be generated by a vigorous polar low firing up south-east of Madagascar tomorrow before tracking east towards us and generating a fetch of severe-gale south-west winds before breaking down to our south-west on Saturday evening. Core wind speeds are expected to reach the stronger storm-force range (pictured right), generating a large and powerful SW groundswell that should arrive overnight Sunday and peak Monday.

The South West should see 10-12ft waves across exposed breaks with larger sets at offshore bommies, while Perth should come in at 3-4ft, with 6-8ft sets around Gero.

Winds aren't great but will be good for protected locations with a fresh to strong S/SE'ly, with Tuesday offering more favourable E/SE winds around Perth and SE winds up at Gero as the swell eases.

Beyond Monday's swell a couple of follow up S/SW groundswells are on the cards but to nowhere near the size or intensity. Check back here Friday for the latest on this.