Alnes Lighthouse Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mates, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the next two weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle. We’ve got a long dry spell ahead, with most days serving up onshore slop or just flat waves. If you’re desperate, there’s a couple of windows to get wet, but you’ll need to keep your expectations low and pick your moments carefully.

For the first stretch, from the 31st of July right through to the 9th of August, it’s basically a write-off. We’ve got a lot of fresh breeze and stronger winds throwing the ocean into a mess. The swell is there at times, like the 8ft on Sunday and Monday, but it’s coming from the west with a wild cross-shore wind – it’ll be lumpy, chop-riddled chaos, and honestly, it looks more like a session for the kite surfers than for anyone on a paddleboard or a shortboard. The energy is moderate, but it’s all over the place. The water temp is 57°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there. It’s just a big, blown-out mess.

There’s no point even looking at the small stuff in between – it’s all under 3ft and messy. We see a weak window on the 4th with a gentle breeze, but the swell is tiny and won’t have any push.

The first real glimmer of hope shows up on Monday, the 10th of August. It’s still classified as marginal, but we’ve got a better swell building from the NNW – 5ft to 6ft of it. The period jumps up to 9-10 seconds, which means there’s some proper groundswell energy behind it. The energy reading gets to 603 (a solid moderate amount). The wind is light, which is a huge plus. It’s still not perfect, but it’s the first thing that looks surfable.

Then, Tuesday the 11th is the standout of the whole forecast. The morning is looking glassy – flat calm, zero wind. The swell holds at 6ft from the NNW with a 9-second period. This is your window. It’s a point break, and a longer period swell like this will wrap in nicely. The water temp is still around 57°F, normal for the area. It won’t be crowded, just a few locals out. This is the one to point at.

Wednesday the 12th morning also has a look. We’ve got a light offshore breeze from the SSE, which will keep the 5ft swell clean. The period drops to 6 seconds though, so it’ll be a bit softer and less powerful. It’s surfable, but not in the same league as Tuesday. The afternoon goes cross-off and still clean, but the energy is waning.

After that, it’s all downhill. From the 13th through the 15th, the swell fades away to ankle-biters, and the wind comes back onshore. By the weekend, we’re looking at less than 2ft and no real push.

So, here’s the deal. If you can only get one session in, make it the morning of Tuesday, the 11th of August, at Alnes Lighthouse. That’s your best bet. The Monday afternoon on the 10th is a backup, but it’s not as clean. Otherwise, it’s a lot of sitting on the beach watching the wind chop.

Rusty out.

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