Sunday afternoon delivered a reminder that winter 2019 ain’t over, as a pool of very cold air floated over South Australia. It was chilly down at sea level, but higher altitudes hit freezing – cold enough to dump light snow on Mount Lofty late in the day.
Photo: Jennifer M. Fraser
Southoz will come under the influence of a slow moving high this week, but the wind will be SW for the next few days.
On Tuesday a SW swell will maintain bumpy 2′ waves on the Mid Coast, and the large swell on the South Coast will ease back to around 3 – 4′ at Middleton. The Bay will be OK in the morning, or maybe the Dump in Victor before the swell fades. Winds will be westerly at 10 -15 knots all day.
Wednesday is not all that different in the morning, the breeze will swing more SW and probably pick up to 10 – 15 knots or so after lunch. The Mid Coast will be bumpy again at around 2′, with 3′ waves at Middleton building 4 – 5′ after lunch. Again The Bay or The Dump are probably your best bets after lunch.
The swell will be bigger from the SW on Thursday, with light SW winds under 10 knots. The Mid Coast will be a bit bumpy and around 2′ again, but surf is looking in the 4 – 6′ range at Middleton. Part sheltered spots will be worth a look, others may come online after lunch as the swell fades.
Friday looks like the first glimpse of Northerlies for the week, tending 10 – 15 knots early and building 15 – 20 knots after lunch. A good WSW swell should lift wave heights on the Mid Coast to 2- 3′, but it’ll be bumpy. Middleton will be in the 3 – 4′ range and clean, easing a bit after lunch.
The offshore winds on the South Coast will persist into Saturday, and breaks from Goolwa to Parson’s will be clean in the morning. The Mid Coast will be bumpy and around 1 – 2′, Middleton should be in the 2 – 3′ size range and clean. A front is due to cross Adelaide around midday, and the wind will quickly back around to the South behind it. Conditions on the South Coast will turn pretty quick behind the front, and become messy with onshore winds after lunch. The Mid will also be messy, but there’s a chance of light / variable winds and a glass-off just before the change hits.
Sunday looks like it will be onshore on the South Coast with messy surf in the 5′ range at Middleton. The Mid Coast will be clean if the wind goes SE, and surf should be around 1 – 2′.
Another stormy looks like rolling through early next week, possibly Monday morning. More on that in the next update.