Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra Surf Forecast (Wed 25th Dec)

Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra Surf Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Wednesday 25th December)

Best Days: Friday morning, Monday morning for keen surfers, Tuesday morning

Recap

Merry Christmas from the Swellnet team! A moderate increase in S'ly swell was seen yesterday to 3ft across south facing beaches during the day. Conditions were poor during the morning with fresh S-S/SE winds, but these eased and held from the S'th into the afternoon resulting in an improvement in conditions.

Today the S'ly swell was dropping from a small 1-2ft at south facing beaches under a calm N'ly wind, favouring south swell magnets.

This week (Dec 26 - 27)

The E'ly windswell expected across the Sydney region tomorrow afternoon and early Friday has been upgraded slightly to a peak of 2ft+. This is a result of a weak surface trough directly to our east (pictured right) coming in stronger than forecast on Monday.

Winds will be poor tomorrow as the swell builds and onshore from the E/NE, but Friday should see clean fun peaky waves with a light variable wind during the morning.

This weekend onwards (Dec 28 onwards)

Saturday will be slow with an easing E'ly swell from 1ft to possibly 2ft across open beaches, and freshening NE winds will kick up a late increase in NE windswell.

Come Sunday morning an early S'ly change is expected, with the NE windswell dropping rapidly at dawn, but a moderate increase in S'ly swell will arrive, reaching a stormy 3-4ft across south facing beaches late afternoon. Conditions will be poor though with a fresh to strong S/SE wind.

The cold front responsible for Sunday's swell will weaken overnight, with a drop in S/SE swell expected Monday and further Tuesday with improving winds (Monday may see a lingering S/SE'ly).

Longer term there's nothing major on the cards for next week unfortunately so make the most of the coming days of small waves.