Western Australian Surf Forecast (issued Fri 7th Mar)

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Craig started the topic in Friday, 7 Mar 2014 at 1:33pm

Western Australia Surf Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Friday 7th March)

Best Days: Monday morning, Tuesday morning, Wednesday morning

Recap

Exposed locations continued to fair best yesterday with a medium sized swell and morning offshores that tended variable across some spots but gave into sea breezes at other.

Early this morning things were fairly similar to yesterday but since then a strong pulse of long-range SW groundswell has filled in the South West and is making its way north, with solid 6-8ft sets breaking across the exposed breaks with fresh to strong offshore winds. The Cape Naturaliste buoy has jumped sharply (pictured right) with peak periods hitting 17s.

These winds are starting to back off creating excellent surf, while the swell is also now filling in around Perth and will arrive late around Gero.

This weekend (Mar 8 - 9)

Make the most of today's waves as we'll see the groundswell easing through tomorrow but the main problem will be onshore winds from the SW across most of the state.

Heading into Sunday, onshores are likely to linger in the South West, while Perth and Gero may see slightly more favourable S'ly winds, but this will keep conditions well below par.

A strong increase in new SW groundswell is due later across Margs and into the evening further north, generated by a couple of strong frontal systems piggybacking up from the Heard Island region towards us the last couple of days.

Next week onwards (Mar 10 onwards)

Sunday evening's late kick in SW groundswell should peak during the evening in the South West, and Monday morning around Perth and Gero and then ease slowly through Monday, with the easing trend being softened somewhat by the tail end of the frontal progression generating our swell continuing to aim a broad fetch of strong to gale-force SW winds towards us during tomorrow.

Size wise, we should see Margs easing from 6ft to occasionally 8ft, 2ft+ in Perth and 4-5ft+ up in Gero.

Winds look great as well, swinging offshore from the E/SE during the morning across Margs and Perth, with SE winds around Gero. So plan some surfing time around Monday morning to make the most of the good conditions.

Slightly less favourable and stronger SE winds are due on Tuesday as the swell steadies due to a moderate reinforcing SW groundswell filling in.

Wednesday will be another day to pencil into the diary as late Tuesday's increase in groundswell crosses over with the arrival of a long-range and inconsistent SW groundswell under offshore E'ly winds. There'll be long waits between sets though, so you'll have to be patient.

Longer term we're looking at a good pulse of SW groundswell arriving late next week and peaking Saturday from a vigorous but two staged-polar front firing up from west of Heard Island and then moving towards us during next week. We'll take a closer look at this on Monday though.