Anne Street Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let me break it down for you – we’ve got a 16-day stretch ahead, but it’s a slow start for Anne Street Reef. The first week is mostly small, weak waves with average conditions, nothing to get fired up about. The real action shows up in the second week, around the 18th of August and beyond, when the ocean gets some punch. But the wind’s all over the place, so it’s a fight.

Kicking off on Friday the 7th of August, we’ve got a tiny 3ft easterly swell rolling in, with a short period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is weak (98), and the water’s a bit colder than usual for this time of year at 68°, but the morning has a sweet cross-off wind from the south at 3 mph, making it clean. The waves are just surfable, nothing special. By afternoon, the wind swings onshore and it’s a write-off.

Saturday the 8th is more of the same: 3ft from the east-northeast, period 8 seconds, energy bumping up a little (112). Morning’s clean with a light cross-off, but the afternoon turns cross-onshore at 9 mph, making it choppy and messy.

Sunday the 9th is the bright spot of the first week. The swell ticks up to 3ft from the east, period 9 seconds, and the energy hits 198 – moderate. But the real story is the glassy conditions in the morning with zero wind. That’s rare and beautiful, so if you’re keen, get out there early. The waves are still ordinary, but with that glassy surface, it’s your best chance for a clean, fun session. Afternoon goes cross-onshore again, so don’t sleep in.

Monday the 10th through to Thursday the 13th is a mixed bag. Monday morning has a 3ft east swell, energy at 186, but a strong cross-off wind from the northwest at 16 mph keeps it clean. Monday afternoon turns offshore from the west-southwest at 16 mph, with a 3ft swell from the north-northeast – but the period drops to 6 seconds, so it’s short and weak. The rest of the week sees swell dropping to 2ft to 2ft, with energy mostly under 130. Winds are a lottery – some clean moments, but mostly cross or onshore. Nothing to write home about.

Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th are still small – 2ft to 1ft swell, energy under 90. The wind is mostly cross-off or cross, but the waves are just too small to bother with. Sunday the 16th sees a pulse of swell – 6ft from the east-southeast, period 6 seconds, energy 247 – but the wind is a fresh cross-onshore at 19 mph, with rain showers. It’s lumpy, choppy, and poor. Not your day.

Now the second week gets interesting. Monday the 17th of August brings a solid 6ft swell from the east-southeast, period 7 seconds, energy jumping to 360. But it’s still cross-onshore at 19 mph with rain, so it’s rough. The swell is getting bigger, but the wind is ruining it.

The standout window is Tuesday the 18th of August. We’ve got a 7ft swell from the east-southeast, period 8 seconds, and the energy rockets to 1105 – that’s strong. The wind is cross from the south-southeast at 12 mph, with rain showers. The waves are big, but the cross-shore wind will make it lumpy with a cross-chop. This is only for experienced surfers – 7ft is too big for beginners. The crowd situation at Anne Street Reef is “sometimes” busy, so you might have company. The swell direction is east-southeast, and the reef loves an east-southeast swell, so the shape could be there if you can handle the chop. It’s the best on offer, but it’s not clean.

Wednesday the 19th through Friday the 21st stays big, with 6ft to 7ft swells, energy still strong (537 to 1020), but the wind stays cross or cross-onshore from the south-southeast or southeast at 12-16 mph. Rain and thunderstorms are likely. It’s powerful but messy – only for the hardcore crew. Saturday the 22nd sees the swell drop back to 3ft to 4ft, with cross-onshore wind, so it fades out.

Overall, if you’re a beginner, the first week is your only window, but it’s tiny. For the experienced surfer, the 18th of August has the most size and energy, but the wind is a letdown. The glassy Sunday morning on the 9th is the cleanest wave you’ll see in the whole 16 days, even if it’s small. Don’t expect perfection – this is a reef that needs a clean swell to shine, and we’re not getting it.

Rusty.

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