Western Australia Surf Forecast by Craig Brokensha (issued Wednesday 22nd June)

Best Days:

Recap

A new pulse in SW groundswell yesterday but with onshores across the South West and 3-5ft sets. Perth and Mandurah were around 1-2ft and clean for most of the day with weak sea breezes.

Today the swell was a similar size but a stronger pulse of SW groundswell is starting to hit the South West with sets due to reach 6-8ft. Perth was only 1-2ft, with more consistent sets due into this afternoon but winds are poor.

This week and weekend (Jun 23 - 26)

This afternoon's increase in SW groundswell is expected to peak overnight and ease from 6-8ft tomorrow morning across the South West and 2ft in Perth. Conditions will remain average but improve later across the South West with a fresh but easing S/SW tending S/SE breeze. Perth will be better with SE'ly wind.

Early Friday morning is still expected to offer a window of decent conditions with a dawn E/NE'ly, tending more N/NE through the morning and then fresh N/NW into the afternoon. Perth is expected to see a longer lived E/NE'ly. The swell will be easing though from the 5ft range in the South West and 1-2ft further north.

The start of the weekend will be poor with small leftovers and onshore winds across both regions (SW Margs and W tending SW Perth).

Of much greater importance is the oversized swell due to arrive Sunday across our state.

Currently a vigorous polar low is forming is forming in the Heard Island region, with a fetch of severe-gale to storm-force SW winds due to be projected slowly in a captured fetch nature towards us through the coming days, passing further east and under us Saturday.

A very large long-period SW groundswell should be generated, arriving overnight Saturday and peaking Sunday morning (later Sunday mid-period energy should increase from the front pushing close to us).

A peak to a solid 12-15ft is due in the South West with 15-20ft sets at offshore reefs and bommies, with Perth seeing 3-4ft sets.

Unfortunately winds are looking average in the South West with a freshening N'ly tending N/NW breeze leaving no decent options at all. Perth will be cleaner with an E/NE offshore, tending more variable into the afternoon.

Monday won't be any better as the swell drops away quickly with gusty N/NW winds.

Longer term there's plenty more swell on the cards for next week, but we'll have a look at this Friday.