ADs/Doubles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s have a look at the cards. To be straight with you, the next 16 days for ADs/Doubles are a real mixed bag, mostly disappointing. The wind is going to be a constant pain for a long stretch, and we’re looking at a long dry spell with not much to get excited about.

There’s a blank run at the start here – no real surf on offer for the first bit. Tuesday the 18th of August, the swell is small and crippled by a cross wind, just 5ft of weak, short-period ENE windswell with poor conditions. The water temp is a normal 80° for this time of year. That sets the tone.

We go through Wednesday the 19th, Thursday the 20th, and into Friday the 21st with tiny, weak swells (combined energy under 400) and cross or cross-onshore winds. The surf is just not there. Saturday the 22nd sees the swell nudge up to 5ft, but that ENE wind is blowing at 19 mph, making it a lumpy mess.

From Sunday the 23rd through to the middle of the following week, the swell picks up – we’re looking at 6ft to 8ft from the ENE. But the wind also cranks up, with strong breezes hitting 25 to 28 mph, creating powerful cross-shore chop. The combined energy gets up to a strong 1135, but it’s all messy, so there’s no joy for a paddle surfer. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than a clean wave ride.

That poor run with strong wind and messy surf continues right through to the end of August. The only flicker of potential is on the 30th of August, a Sunday. The swell is a solid 12ft from the E, with a 9-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 2167. The report noted something interesting – wind and tide could be favorable, but the swell is simply too big for this break. This is the only real standout on the cards, but you’ll need to be an expert to even think about it, and even then, it’s a dangerous one.

Heading into September, the energy drops but stays moderate. On the 2nd of September, Wednesday morning, we finally get a break in the wind. The swell is 7ft from the east, 8-second period, with moderate energy (1330), but the wind goes glassy – just a slight air from the ESE. That’s the best chance for a clean wave all forecast. Conditions will be excellent for experienced surfers.

So, the long and short of it is: the first week and a half is a write-off thanks to that constant, messy cross-shore wind. The only true standout for big, powerful swell is the 30th of August, but it's for experts only and you’ll need to be careful. The one clear window for genuinely clean conditions comes right at the tail end of the forecast, on Wednesday the 2nd of September. Keep an eye on that one, but remember – anything that far out is promising but less certain.

Rusty.

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