Airport Lefts Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s have a look at what’s on offer around here over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag, but we’ve got one spot doing all the heavy lifting – Airport Lefts. This reef break is a known quantity around these parts: intermediate level, inconsistent by nature, and it only really turns on when the swell direction matches up. It’s exposed and the optimum direction is from the SSW. For the entire 16-day window, it’s the only game in town, so let’s see what it’s giving us.

Starting from Thursday the 13th of August, right off the bat we’ve got some serious size rolling in. A solid 10 ft SSW swell with a very long 16-second period is pumping. The combined energy is strong at 4103. The wind is a cross-off ESE at 12 mph, which will keep the surface reasonably tidy. The water temp is sitting at 79°, which is about average for the time of year – nothing unusual there. This is big, powerful, groundswell-driven surf. Over 8 ft, so this is strictly for experienced crew only. It’s a reef, so those long-period lines will stand up nicely, but be ready for some grun.

Into Friday the 14th, the swell eases a touch to 7 ft from the SSW, still a long 16-second period. The wind stays cross-off from the SE at 12 mph. The energy is still strong at 2725 but the forecast suggests the quality is marginal, likely due to tide or some bump in the water. It’s still a solid option if you’ve got the skills.

We roll through the weekend into Monday the 17th, and we see a drop-off. The swell backs down to 5 ft, then 5 ft, with energy dropping to around 900. It’s still ridable but lacking the punch of the earlier days. Tuesday the 18th sees a bit of a pulse back up to 6 ft-6 ft with a 16-second period, and the energy climbs back over 2300. A good sign.

Now, here’s where the standout window really begins to open up. Wednesday the 19th of August through into the following week starts to look proper. We’ve got 8 ft SSW swell with a very long 18-second period on Wednesday morning. The combined energy is 3762. The wind is cross-off from the SE at 12 mph. Wednesday afternoon bumps that energy up to 4374. This is the best looking block of the forecast. It’s got size, it’s got period, and the wind is doing us a favour.

Thursday the 20th keeps the party going with 10 ft SW swell in the morning and a 16-second period, energy at 4281. Friday the 21st is interesting – the morning session sees the swell at 7 ft but the wind turns offshore from the ESE at 16 mph. That’s the cleanest wind state of the whole period, described as excellent for experienced surfers. That morning window on Friday the 21st could be the pick of the entire run for quality.

After that, the swell holds in the 7 ft to 8 ft range through the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd of August, with cross-off winds and solid long-period energy. The energy values stay well into the strong range, mostly over 2500 and up to 4399. The size is still big enough that beginners should sit this one out – anything over 5 ft is a handful, and we’re well above that.

We then see a slow fade through the final days of the month. By Monday the 24th, we’re down to 5 ft, and the energy drops to 1163. Tuesday the 25th has a small 3 ft pulse but with a 17-second period, so the energy is still moderate at 1122. From there, it trickles along with 5 ft to 7 ft SSW swell and cross-off winds, but nothing jumps out as a standout until the very last day on Friday the 28th of August, where we see a 7 ft SSW swell with a 15-second period and energy hitting 3505 in the afternoon. That’s a solid finish to the outlook.

So, the big takeaway is this: Airport Lefts is the only break firing in this window, and it’s inconsistent by nature, so you’ve got to time it. The standout days are definitely Thursday the 20th of August and the morning of Friday the 21st of August. If you can get out there when the swell is over 8 ft and the wind is cross-off or offshore, you’ll be in for some serious, powerful reef waves. Just remember, this is not a beginner’s wave when it’s that size. Longer period groundswell like this can run a bit straight on a beach break, but on a reef like Airport Lefts, it’ll set up nicely.

Stay on it.

Rusty

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