Eastern Tasmania Surf Forecast (Wed 19th Feb)

Eastern Tasmania Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Wednesday 19th February)

Best Days: Thursday morning, Friday afternoon for keen surfers, early Saturday, Sunday

Recap

Yesterday saw small to tiny waves across the coast while today a new NE windswell has developed across open beaches reaching between 2-3ft depending on exposure. Winds were average early but have since swung offshore creating fun peaky waves across most spots.

This week and Saturday (Feb 19 - 22)

Today's NE swell will drop overnight but there should still be some fun waves to 2ft+ across swell magnets under strengthening offshore winds.

Ignore the increase in W/NW swell for the afternoon, this is a glitch we hope to fix soon.

Of more importance is a pulse of S'ly groundswell during Friday as a deep and intense mid-latitude sitting over us moves slowly east opening our coast to a fetch of gale-force S/SW winds.

At the head of the low winds won't be as favourable and from the SW, but along its western and southern flank a more favourable fetch of S'ly gales should help generate a good 3-5ft of S'ly groundswell for Friday afternoon (pictured right).

Unfortunately winds will swing from a morning offshore to the S/SE during the day creating average conditions at spots picking up the most size.

Much cleaner conditions are due on Saturday but the swell will ease rapidly due to the low continuing east and our of our swell window while at the same time the winds on the backside of the low tend more SW and out of our swell window.

Still in saying this, early morning at south swell magnets should see 3ft to possibly 4ft sets, so aim for the dawny.

Sunday onwards (Feb 23 onwards)

Sunday is actually looking really fun across south facing beaches as a secondary pulse of S'ly groundswell makes its way up the coast.

This will be related to a polar front pushing up from below our state, into the Tasman Sea over an already active sea state, generating a good 3-4ft of groundswell. Winds should persist from the N/NW for most of the day, creating good conditions at spots picking up the most size.

This swell is due to ease steadily overnight and further Monday as winds go S'ly creating less than ideal conditions.

Longer term there's nothing too major on the cards, so try and work around the expected S'ly swell Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and then Sunday's swell.