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Bureau of Meteorology


Coastal Waters Forecast 

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IDV10200

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Victoria

Coastal Waters Forecast for Victoria

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 near the South Australian coast extends a ridge across northern Victoria while a weak cold front passes through Bass Strait during Wednesday morning. The ridge will extend across the remainder of Victoria late Wednesday then persist for Thursday and Friday. The high centre will move southeast on Saturday while the ridge continues to dominate.

West Coast: SA-VIC Border to Cape Otway

Forecast for Wednesday 20 May until midnight

Winds: Southwesterly 15 to 20 knots decreasing to about 10 knots in the late evening. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing to 1 metre by early evening. Swell: Southwesterly 2 to 2.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Thursday 21 May

Winds: West to northwesterly below 10 knots becoming northerly in the late evening. Seas: Below 0.5 metres. Swell: Southwesterly 2.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Forecast for Friday 22 May

Winds: North to northeasterly 10 to 15 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Southwesterly 2 to 3 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy.

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.

The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:15 pm EST Wednesday.

* Calls to 1300 numbers cost around 27.5c incl. GST, higher from mobiles or public phones.

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