Ammonias Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way.

First off, I’ve gotta be straight with you—this outlook is a tough one. We’re looking at a 16-day window, and truth is, the first week is pretty much a write-off for any decent surf. There’s a big gap from the start all the way through to the second week before we see anything that gets the heart pumping. The wind is a persistent problem, mostly cross or cross-onshore from the ENE, and the swell is all over the place in size and direction but never really lining up right.

The best stretch of the whole period looks like it’ll be around Wednesday 12th August through to Friday 14th August. That’s when we finally get a pulse of proper swell from the south, with some long period energy. On Wednesday afternoon, you’ll see a 4ft south swell with a period of 18 seconds, and the combined energy is strong at 1310. That’s the kind of groundswell that gets your attention. The catch? The wind is cross-shore from the ENE, so it’s not going to be glassy, but it’s rideable. The water temp is sitting around 80°F, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The standout break here is Ammonias, a reef setup that’s fairly consistent. That long period south swell will wrap in nicely here, given the reef handles that kind of energy better than a beach break. The crowd factor is "often", so expect company, but for the quality on offer, it’s worth it. The swell direction from the south is a good match for the break’s optimum swell from SSE. Just keep in mind, with a period over 15 seconds, the sets will be clean and powerful, but there will be longer lulls between them.

By the time we get into the second week, the south swell fades and we’re back to shorter period ENE windswell, with the wind staying onshore or cross. The swell sizes build up to 8ft, but with periods of only 7-8 seconds and that constant ENE breeze, it’s going to be lumpy and messy. Honestly, for the last few days of the window, the setup at Ammonias looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, given the strong wind and choppy conditions.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a dud. Your best bet is to target that mid-week window from Wednesday 12th August through Friday 14th August, when the south groundswell hits. It’s not perfect, but it’s the only real stand-out in an otherwise flat or wind-affected run.

Rusty.

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