As winter 2019 makes its last gasps, southoz weather remains in limbo a bit like it did last week – not quite winter… not quite spring.
Strong Norwesters flattened the South Coast on Saturday, but light winds opened up the option of the Mid Coast on Sunday, albeit with a weak 1 – 2′ swell. Today was actually better than expected, with glassy 1 – 2′ waves on the Mid Coast and clean 3′ waves down South thanks to an early land breeze.
Another big, slow high is about to move over the state, so winds will be light for the next few days.
The breeze will be light on Tuesday but does look like tending a bit westerly early, then NW at 10 knots after lunch. The Mid Coast should get a small top-up in size on the incoming tide, and Middleton is looking clean after lunch in the 2 – 3′ range. South facing breaks over at Yorkes should be clean and a good size after lunch.
Wednesday is a bit of a weird one, as a front clips the South of SA and briefly shifts winds to the West in the morning. The Mid Coast will be bumpy and still around 1 – 2′, but by late arvo the wind should have swung SSE – possibly even SE. It’s worth keeping an eye on it for a late one. Conversely, conditions will start out OK on the South Coast, but get progressively worse during the day as winds tend more onshore S-SE.
The wind will be back to a very light Easterly early on Thursday, and the Mid Coast should have some 1 – 2′ waves leftover from Wednesday’s fading swell. Wave heights should lift to around 3 – 4′ after lunch at Middleton, and west facing breaks over at Yorkes look good all day.
Friday looks good for the South Coast with winds shifting NE at 7 knots early in the morning, and only getting to around 10 knots from the NNE after lunch. The swell should still be up with surf around 3 – 4′ at Middleton early, fading to 2 – 3′ after lunch. The wind won’t be great for the Mid Coast ( probably only around 1′ and bumpy ) and west facing breaks at Yorkes, but there may be enough East in it for a dawny.
Heading into the weekend, it looks like a cold front will cross on Sunday but it’s a fast mover so the wind could drop quickly behind it. Saturday looks OK for small waves down South, 1 – 2′ at Middleton with 15 knot N-NW winds all day. the Mid Coast is looking bumpy, with surf around 1′.
Sunday looks small and blown out on the South Coast, with 20 knot NW winds tending WNW later and surf around 1′ at Middleton. The Mid Coast will be bumpy and wind effected, but wave heights should lift to maybe 2′ after lunch. Early next week is a bit hard to call at this stage, so hope to have another forecast out over the weekend sometime.