Eastern Tasmania Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Monday 5th May)

Best Days: Monday morning at south swell magnets, dawn Wednesday at open beaches

Recap

The weekend started off tiny and poor, but later Saturday as a deep Tasman Low started to form off our coast a junky increase in S'ly windswell. This windswell build further through Sunday and became large into the afternoon, but only protected locations offered any decent waves.

Today however as the low moved away, winds swung offshore as a strong pulse of S/SE groundswell continued to provide 3-5ft sets across the coast, creating excellent conditions across a wide variety of locations.

The swell should of eased this afternoon as winds tended more SW.

This week (May 5 - 9)

We've got another strong pulse of S'ly and then S/SE groundswell on the cards over the coming days, generated by a vigorous low pushing up into the state this evening and then up past out coast tomorrow.

A fetch of sever-gale S/SW winds will be generated through our swell window, kicking up an initial large but acute S'ly groundswell for tomorrow, peaking later in the day.

This swell should reach 6ft at south facing locations, with smaller 3ft waves at open beaches, and tiny surf in protected southern corners. Winds will be favourable early before the swell kicks and offshore but a S/SW change is due during the day, creating poor conditions.

The low won't move off quickly through tomorrow and instead, a secondary front pushing from under the low will project a fetch of gale to sever-gale S'ly winds up through our south-southeast swell window into the afternoon and evening (pictured right), generating a large pulse of S/SE groundswell.

This swell should arrive strongly Wednesday afternoon (with the morning seeing moderate to large levels of leftover S'ly swell) and peak overnight before easing through Thursday.

Size wise, this secondary pulse should reach 6ft+ at exposed beaches with 8ft sets at offshore bommies Wednesday afternoon and then ease from 5-6ft or so Thursday, down to 3-5ft during the day. Come Friday much smaller waves are due with a dropping swell from 3ft or so at exposed locations.

Now winds on Wednesday will remain average and fresh to strong from the S/SW tending S'ly, but Thursday on the other hand should see a lighter W'ly offshore during the morning and variable winds into the afternoon creating an excellent day of surfing!

As the swell eases on Friday strengthening N/NW winds will limit the best waves to spots picking up the most swell.

This weekend onwards (May 10 onwards)

The weekend isn't expected to offer any decent swell and this trend is expected to continue into next week. Some junky NE windswell is on the cards for Wednesday, but we'll review this again on Wednesday. In the meantime, make the most of the coming S'ly and S/SE swells.