Back Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Back Beach over the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a proper run of solid, powerful south-west swell on the way, but the timing and the size mean it’s not for everyone. The water is sitting at a comfortable 65.5°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no nasty surprises there.

The action kicks off this Saturday morning, August 15th. We're looking at a solid 7.5ft swell from the WSW, with a long 14-second period pushing through. That’s some proper groundswell energy, and with a gentle offshore breeze out of the NE, the face will be clean. The combined energy is a hefty 2118, so there's plenty of power in the water. The catch is that this size is pushing into expert territory, and this is a consistent, exposed beach break. The swell direction is also right on the money for what Back Beach likes. Early on the 15th is definitely one of the standout windows.

The swell hangs in through Saturday afternoon at 6.9ft, but the wind swings onshore from the SSW, so it’ll get a bit bumpy. Sunday the 16th is another good shout, especially in the afternoon. You’ve got a 7.5ft WSW swell with a very long 15-second period, clean lines, and a gentle offshore from the NNE. The energy is even stronger at 2570. That morning session on Sunday also has clean conditions, but with a fresh 19 mph offshore, it’ll be a bit more challenging to hold your line.

Now, things take a turn. From Monday the 17th through to about Thursday the 20th, the swell just gets too damn big. We’re talking 8.2ft pumping up to 13ft+. Even with periods that are occasionally up around 16 or 19 seconds, the power is enormous. The combined energy readings are screaming into the four and five-thousand range. For a spot that gets this much exposure, it’s just going to be a washing machine – you’d need a serious death wish or a jet ski. The wind also gets messy for most of those days. This stretch is a write-off for paddle surfing. If you’ve got a kite, maybe, but the cross-shore winds will make it tricky.

After that big pulse settles, Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd look like they could be redemption days. The swell drops back to a more manageable 8.2ft on Friday, and 7.9ft on Saturday, still holding that excellent WSW direction with long periods around 14-15 seconds. Saturday morning the 22nd is a real standout: an 7.9ft WSW groundswell with a 15-second period, combined energy of 2544, and a gentle offshore from the NNE. It will be clean, powerful, and well-shaped. This is about as good as it gets for the experienced crew.

Moving into the second week, there’s a bit more chop and change. Sunday the 23rd offers some 7.2ft swell but the wind isn't perfect. We then get another messy spell from Monday the 24th to Tuesday the 25th, with rain and strong onshore winds ruining the surface.

Looking further out, Wednesday the 26th is another day where the swell is predicted to be too big, pushing 13ft. But then we get a nice window closing out the month. Thursday morning August 27th is a cracker: 8.2ft swell from the WSW, 15-second period, combined energy of 2625, and a light offshore breeze. That’s clean, powerful, and a great way to start the day.

Finally, Friday afternoon the 28th has a very interesting look. It's a smaller 4.6ft swell, but the period is a massive 20 seconds. That’s a very long-period groundswell that will wrap in with serious push. On a beach break, that long period can make things a bit too straight, but if you find a bank with a bit of shape, it’ll be a special session. The wind is light and clean.

Summary: Two true standouts punch through this forecast. The best on offer are Saturday morning, August 15th and Saturday morning, August 22nd. Both offer a solid 7.5ft to 7.9ft WSW groundswell with excellent 14-15 second periods, clean offshore winds, and a very high wave energy. The Thursday morning, August 27th session is also well worth keeping an eye on.

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