Ammonias Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer at Ammonias over the next couple of weeks.

To be honest, it’s a pretty grim start. We’re kicking off Friday the 21st of August with a weak 2ft SSW swell, but it’s a 17-second groundswell, so there’s energy in the water. The trouble is, the wind is onshore from the SE, and the combined energy is only 310, which is weak. The report says it’s marginal at best with questionable tide. Friday afternoon is a write-off, and the whole weekend is a no-go. Saturday and Sunday the wind is howling from the ENE, swinging cross and cross-on, with a messy, choppy sea state. The swell is almost non-existent on Saturday, and then Sunday we get a jump in height to 6ft, but the period drops to a pathetic 7 seconds, and the wind is still cross. That’s a messy, bumpy wave—not worth paddling out for.

Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th are more of the same: cross or cross-on winds, small swell, and poor conditions. The combined energy is moderate but the quality is just not there. We’ve got a long stretch of poor to marginal surf through the middle of the week and into the end of August. The wind stays stubbornly from the ENE, keeping things choppy. There’s a glimmer on Wednesday the 26th morning with a 2ft SSW swell at 14 seconds, but it’s cross-shore wind and the report calls it marginal. The afternoon shows a 3ft S swell at 18 seconds, which is a nice long period, but the wind is still cross and the conditions are only marginal.

Honestly, for the first week and a half, there’s nothing to get excited about. The best of the lot is a very long shot on the morning of Monday the 31st of August. We’re looking at a 7ft ENE swell, with a 12-second period and a combined energy of 1658, which is strong. But the wind is cross from the ENE, and the report says it’s only marginal. Still, that’s the biggest swell we’ve seen, and if the wind co-operates, it could be worth a look. But it’s still a gamble.

Now, the real standout is further out, on Tuesday the 1st of September. This is the one to keep an eye on. We’ve got a 8ft ENE swell, 13-second period, and the combined energy is a massive 4331, which is very strong. The wind is coming from the NNE at 22 mph, which is a cross-offshore wind, and conditions are described as clean. That’s the magic word. For a reef break like Ammonias, which is exposed to the swell and has an optimum direction from the SSE, this ENE swell is a bit off-angle, but with that size, period, and clean offshore wind, it could be firing. The break is rated as intermediate and fairly consistent, but crowds are often, so you’ll have company. This is a big, powerful swell—over 8ft, so it’s for experienced surfers only. The long period groundswell (13 seconds) will mean long lulls between sets, which makes paddling out easier, but at a reef break, it’ll hold up nicely.

Sadly, the good window is short. By Wednesday the 2nd of September, the wind swings back onshore and the swell gets messy and lumpy, with 10ft ENE swell but heavy cross-on winds. That’s a washing machine. After that, the swell drops off and the wind stays poor, with small, choppy waves through the end of the forecast.

So, to sum it up: the first week and a half are a write-off. The only real hope is the morning of Tuesday the 1st of September. That’s the pick of the bunch, but it’s a long way out, so treat it as promising but not certain. If you’re an experienced surfer and you’re free that day, it could be worth the punt.

Rusty.

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