Surf Forecast - South Australia

South Central Coast SA

Mid Coast SA

Forecast issued Thursday, 16 May 2013.

Short Forecast
Friday
S swell mix continues with underlying SW groundswell, decreasing through afternoon. 4ft fading 3ft across the South Coast; 1ft across the Mid Coast. WIND: Variable WSW 5-10kt, easing to SE

Saturday
Settled S/SW swell, 2-3ft across the South Coast; grading small 1ft across the Mid Coast. WIND: Light to variable winds, tending seabreeze

Sunday
Small settled swell, 1-3ft across the South Coast, flat across the Mid Coast. WIND: Light N 5-10kt, increasing NW in afternoon

Monday
SW swell increasing gradually 2-3ft inconsistently better sets across the South Coast late; grading to 1ft across the Mid Coast. WIND: Light W to NW 5-10kt.

Tuesday
Potential new SW groundswell increasing 3-5ft sets South Coast, long lulls, grading small across the Mid Coast. WIND: N winds, shifting stronger NE to E in afternoon 10-15kts+

For in-depth analysis read the Detailed Surf Forecast

Try 7 day Forecasts & Wave Tracker on Coastalwatch Plus

Recap
A complex low pressure system travelled across the bight over the weekend and then stalled just northwest of Tasmania through Thursday.This system produced a mix of WSW swell through the beginning of the week and then waves shifted gradually towards a short-mid period southerly swell into Thursday.

Forecast Overview
Last weekend's W/SW swell mix is now faded and winds from the backside of a storm system set up in the Bass Straight has generate a closer range southerly wind fetch. Waves continue showing through the end of the week off of an extended a run of short-mid period southerly swell. As well a longer period underlying SW groundswell pushed up sets for standout breaks and crossed in waves.

Swell will be easing as low pressure begins break down gradually in the Bass Strait and moves east towards the Tasman. Surf will slow down and a high pressure system fills into the state from the west through the weekend. Expect remaining waves to shift further SW to S direction as winds decrease into Friday. This should allow wave form to sort out and decrease gradually as SW swell will be fading out through the weekend.

Cleaner and settled conditions are due to show for the upcoming weekend with old southerly swell decreasing into small range. High pressure will stabilise and return northerly winds across the state through the weekend and early next week. This should offer fair but weaker surf conditions into early Monday.

There is a smaller long period SW groundswell possible to bump up a slight increase in inconsistent sets around Monday 20th as conditions should hold clean under northerly winds on the South Coast. As of now, the SW swell is small range but possible to hold occasional fun range 2-3ft+ sets and then peak into Tuesday 21st.

During the first half of next week, a new low pressure system is forecasted to drop south of WA. The low will set up in the bight and may produce a shift of winds across SA as high pressure breaks down. Expect a rise of northerly winds Monday to clock around from west Tuesday to south Wednesday, varying conditions across the coast from day to day.

Long Range
A larger storm development in the south Indian Ocean is forecasted to take place over the upcoming weekend that can increase a larger longer sustained run of long period SW groundswells late next week. The first pulse of SW waves is possibly increase new sets into SA around Wednesday but then would be overrun by larger groundswell around the Friday 24th into the following weekend. Stay tuned as this storm has not yet developed.