South Australian Surf Forecast (Fri 27th Dec)

South Australian Forecast (issued Friday 27th December)

Best Days: Early Saturday morning down South, Sunday on the Mid, Tuesday and Wednesday down South

Recap

Wednesday's increase in S/SW groundswell backed off through yesterday and conditions were poor down South with an onshore change moving in overnight. The Mid Coast saw more favourable S/SE winds as a new SW groundswell arrived into the afternoon, offering 1ft waves across the coast.

Today the SW groundswell has kept inconsistent 1-1.5ft waves hitting the Mid Coast, while the South Coast was bigger and in the 3ft range but only good in protected locations with an E'ly breeze.

This weekend (Dec 28 - 29)

Today's SW groundswell will ease later this afternoon and further overnight leaving small waves across the South Coast and tiny waves on the Mid. Conditions should be clean early in semi-protected locations down South with an offshore wind but a strong S/SW change will move through during the mid-late morning, so don't dawdle.

Saturday's change will be linked to a deepening frontal system dipping south-east across Tassie and with it, a fetch of strong S/SW winds should kick up a short-range S/SW swell for Sunday. Also in the mix will be a fun SW groundswell but conditions will be poor with fresh S/SE winds.

The Mid Coast however should see tiny clean 1ft waves all day Sunday.

Next week onwards (Dec 30 onwards)

Sunday's mix of swells will ease into Monday as winds swing more E/SE, but remain average for the South Coast.

Tuesday will offer much better waves down South at exposed spots with a N/NE tending variable breeze.

A fun W/SW groundswell is due on Wednesday next week generated by an intense mid-latitude low that's currently firing up west-southwest of WA (pictured right). A fetch of gale to severe-gale W/SW winds will be generated in our medium-range swell window, with the system breaking down directly south-west of WA on Sunday.

An inconsistent groundswell should result that is expected to offer 1-1.5ft waves on the Mid Coast and 2ft+ sets at Middleton with 3ft+ waves at Waits. Winds look favourable during the morning down South and fresh from the N/NW ahead of a S'ly change.

Longer term there's nothing major on the cards until Monday week, but we'll review this Monday.