Ammonias Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Ammonias.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days are not looking like a classic. It’s a long stretch of messy, cross-shore winds and lumpy conditions that are gonna make things tough. There’s a bit of swell energy around, but it’s being blown out by a persistent breeze from the ENE and NE. The early part of the period is a write-off for a decent paddle.

We do see a bit of a pulse of south swell arriving on Wednesday, August 12th. The wave energy is strong, hitting 1165 (moderate energy), with a 4 ft swell from the south at a very long 18 seconds. That’s proper groundswell. But here’s the kicker – the wind is a cross-shore 16 mph, and the forecast says it’s marginal. It’s not going to be clean, but for a reef break at Ammonias, that long period south swell might wrap in and give a few rideable ones, especially if you’re patient. The water temp is 80°, which is bang on average for this time of year.

Things go downhill fast from there. Thursday, August 13th through Friday, August 14th stay cross-shore and messy, with the swell dropping in period. By Saturday, August 15th, the swell direction swings to the ENE and the period drops to a short 8 seconds, while the height jumps up to 8 ft. That’s a lot of chunky, wind-affected water. The combined energy jumps to 1257 (moderate), but with rain showers and a fresh 19 mph cross-shore, it’s a messy onshore mess. Sunday, August 16th is the worst of it – 12 ft of short-period ENE windswell and a strong 25 mph cross-shore breeze. That’s not paddle surfing; that’s a kite session or a hard pass. The wave energy hits 3313 (very strong), but it’s unsurfable.

After that, from Monday, August 17th right through to the end of August, we’re looking at a long stretch of poor-to-marginal conditions. The swell drops off, the period stays short (7-8 seconds), and the wind remains a cross or cross-on shore. The wave energy drops to weak levels by the 19th, dipping below 300 (low energy). There’s a little flicker of life around the 23rd-25th of August, with a south swell trying to build again, reaching 4 ft and a period of 16 seconds by the 25th. The energy hits 881 (moderate), but the wind is still cross-shore.

Honestly, if you’re desperate for a wave, the best bet is to keep an eye on the morning of Wednesday, August 12th, or maybe the very end of the window around the 25th-27th of August. But even then, it’s marginal. The crowds at Ammonias can be an issue, and with the northeast wind, it’s rarely going to be glassy. The setup is a reef, so the long period south swells might make it a bit better than the beach, but it’s a gamble.

For now, I’d say the only standout, if you can call it that, is the south swell on the 12th of August. The rest is a waiting game.

Rusty.

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