Australian Government

Bureau of Meteorology


Coastal Waters Forecast 

Marine (lite) Home

IDT15123

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Tasmania

Coastal Waters Forecast
Bass Strait and Approaches

Issued at 10:00 am EST on Wednesday 20 May 2026
for the period until midnight EST Friday 22 May 2026.

Please be aware
Wind and wave forecasts are averages. Wind gusts can be 40 per cent stronger than the forecast, and stronger still in squalls and thunderstorms. Maximum waves can be twice the forecast height.

Warning Information

For latest warnings go to www.bom.gov.au, subscribe to RSS feeds, call 1300 659 210* or listen for warnings on relevant TV and radio broadcasts.

Weather Situation

A high pressure centre near the South Australian coast extends a ridge of high pressure to the west of Tasmania. The ridge slowly approaches Tasmania and is expected to cross during Thursday and Friday, bringing mostly settled weather to the state. The high is then forecast to move to the east of Tasmania later Friday as a cold front approaches from the west during Saturday.

Central Coast: Cape Otway to Wilsons Promontory

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Winds: Southwesterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots in the far east in the late morning and afternoon. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Southwesterly 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2.5 metres in the west. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Winds: West to southwesterly 10 to 15 knots decreasing to below 10 knots in the early afternoon. Seas: Around 1 metre, decreasing below 0.5 metres around midday. Swell: Southwesterly 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2.5 metres in the west. Weather: Cloudy.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: East to northeasterly about 10 knots increasing to 15 to 20 knots during the afternoon. Seas: Below 0.5 metres, increasing to around 1 metre during the afternoon. Swell: Southwesterly 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2.5 metres in the west. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Central Gippsland Coast: Wilsons Promontory to Lakes Entrance

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Winds: Westerly 20 to 25 knots turning southwesterly 15 to 25 knots in the late morning. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres. 1st Swell: Easterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres in the east. 2nd Swell: West to southwesterly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Winds: Southwesterly 15 to 20 knots decreasing to about 10 knots in the middle of the day. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing below 1 metre during the morning. 1st Swell: West to southwesterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres in the west. 2nd Swell: Easterly around 1 metre. Weather: Cloudy.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: Variable about 10 knots becoming east to northeasterly 10 to 15 knots during the afternoon. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: West to southwesterly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

East Gippsland Coast: Lakes Entrance to 60nm east of Gabo Island

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Wednesday for East Gippsland Coast

Winds: Southwesterly 15 to 25 knots, reaching up to 30 knots in the east in the late morning and afternoon. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres, increasing to 2 to 3 metres in the east. 1st Swell: South to southwesterly 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres in the far east. 2nd Swell: East to northeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres in the east. Weather: Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Winds: Southwesterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots in the far east early in the morning. Winds decreasing to about 10 knots in the evening. Seas: 1 to 2 metres, decreasing to 1 metre during the morning. 1st Swell: Southerly 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres in the far east. 2nd Swell: Easterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres in the far east. Weather: Cloudy.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: Variable about 10 knots becoming easterly 10 to 15 knots during the afternoon. Seas: Below 1 metre. 1st Swell: Southeast to southwesterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres in the far east. 2nd Swell: Easterly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Far North West Coast: Sandy Cape to Stanley

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Winds: Southwesterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots east of King Island in the afternoon. Seas: 1.5 to 2 metres, decreasing to 1 to 1.5 metres by early evening. Swell: Southwesterly 1.5 to 2.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Winds: West to southwesterly 10 to 15 knots tending west to northwesterly during the morning and early afternoon. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Southwesterly 2 to 3 metres. Weather: Cloudy.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: North to northwesterly 10 to 15 knots tending north to northeasterly 15 to 20 knots during the morning. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Southwesterly 2 to 3 metres. Weather: Cloudy.

Central North Coast: Stanley to Northern Tip of Flinders Island

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Winds: Southwesterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots offshore in the late morning and afternoon. Seas: 1 to 2 metres. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Winds: Southwesterly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 20 knots offshore early in the morning. Winds turning westerly in the early afternoon. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre during the morning. Swell: Westerly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: Variable about 10 knots becoming northeasterly 10 to 15 knots during the evening. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Westerly around 1 metre offshore. Weather: Cloudy.

Banks Strait and Franklin Sound

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Winds: Westerly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots about Franklin Sound in the afternoon. Winds turning south to southwesterly 10 to 15 knots in the evening. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing below 1 metre later in the evening. Swell: Easterly around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 2 metres about Banks Strait. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Winds: Variable about 10 knots becoming westerly 10 to 15 knots in the middle of the day then decreasing to about 10 knots in the late afternoon. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Easterly 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to around 1 metre during the morning. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: West to northwesterly below 10 knots becoming northeasterly during the evening. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Easterly below 1 metre, increasing to around 1 metre about Banks Strait. Weather: Partly cloudy.

The next routine forecast will be issued at 5:15 pm EST Wednesday.

* Calls to 1300 numbers cost around 27.5c incl. GST, higher from mobiles or public phones. Marine forecasts are also available on VHF and HF radio. View the radio schedule on www.bom.gov.au/marine

Check the latest Coastal Waters Forecasts for information on wind, wave and weather conditions for neighbouring coastal zones.