South sees best of the Saturday surfing

By Tony Lynch

Friday, March 19, 2010

THE OUTLOOK: The weather for the next few days will be varied, with heavy downpours tomorrow but it will ease off by the end of the day.

Sunday morning will see some sunny spells for most regions but by nightfall another rain belt crosses the island. Temperatures will vary on wind direction so expect high single figures tomorrow as the wind has a northerly aspect to it. By Sunday the wind turns southerly and temperatures head to the early double figures. Wind varying from light F2 to F4 plus gusts.

As for surf, head south tomorrow as a low parked off the south coast is set to generate some strong powerful sets especially early in the day. The low tracks over Ireland tomorrow night so head north-west on Sunday to get some cross off-surf from a low parked off the north-west coast. A lot of mileage needed to get a surf fix but if it was easy everyone would be doing it!

Swell Size

North-west Tomorrow – 2 foot; cross onshore. Sunday – 2 foot plus; cross offshore.

West Tomorrow – 2 foot: cross onshore. Sunday – 2 foot; cross onshore.

South Tomorrow – 3 foot; cross offshore. Sunday – 2; cross onshore.

Approx High Tides

Tomorrow South: 7.30am; South-west: 6.40am; North-west: 8.30am; East: 2pm; South-east: 7.50am.

Sunday South: 8.30am; South-west: 7.20am; North-west 9.30am; East: 3pm; South-east: 8.35am.

Forecast:

South: Tomorrow starts wet and windy. As midday approaches expect cloud cover to thicken with heavy showers. Expect showers throughout the evening. As night falls, there should be less cloud cover and a dry end to the day. Sunday will have a windy and sunny start. For most of the day it will be sunny but the thickening cloud cover increases the risk of light showers. The day will end wet. Daytime temps ranging from 8C tomorrow to 10C Sunday. Wind moderate F3 plus N veering NW and dropping slightly. Sunday winds are moderate F4 plus SSW veering S and building slightly.

South-west: Tomorrow starts off wet and windy. As midday approaches expect cloud cover to thicken even more with heavy showers. The rain will ease in the afternoon but expect some light showers throughout the evening with some sunny spells. As night falls, expect less cloud cover and it should be a dry end. Sunday will have a showery and sunny start with building cloud cover. For most of the day it will be sunny but the thickening cloud cover increases the risk of light showers. By nightfall the cloud thickens and the day will end wet. Daytime temps from 8C tomorrow to 10C Sunday. Wind light F2 plus N veering NW and dropping slightly. Sunday winds light F2 plus SSW veering S and building slightly.

North-west: Tomorrow starts off wet and windy with some rain falling as sleet on higher ground. As midday approaches cloud will thicken with heavy showers. The rain will ease in the afternoon but expect light showers throughout the evening with some sunny spells. As night falls, expect less cloud cover and it should be a dry end to the day. Sunday will have a sunny start with some building cloud cover. For most of the day it will be sunny but the thickening cloud cover increases the risk of showers. By nightfall the cloud thickens and the day will end very wet. Daytime temps from 7C tomorrow to 10C on Sunday. Wind light F2 plus N veering NW and dropping slightly. Sunday winds are light F2 plus SSW veering S and building.

East: Tomorrow starts wet and windy. As midday approaches expect heavy showers. The rain will ease in the afternoon but expect light showers throughout the evening with sunny spells just before nightfall. It should be a dry end to the day. Sunday will have a sunny start with some building cloud cover. For most of the day it will be sunny but the thickening cloud cover increases the risk of light showers and the day will end wet. Daytime temps from 6C tomorrow to 10C on Sunday. Wind moderate F4 plus N veering NW and dropping. Sunday winds are F3 plus SSW veering S and building.

The Buoys

South: South-south-west winds 22knts with westerly swell of 14ft every 7sec pressure rising.

West: West-south-west winds 24kts with westerly swell of 24ft every 10sec pressure rising.

North West: West-south-west winds 18knts with westerly swell of 12ft every 7sec pressure falling.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Friday, March 19, 2010