Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s have a look at this stretch of coast over the coming weeks.

To be honest, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The surf is small to start, and we have a long run of days where conditions are just ordinary. The first real window to get keen on is Monday, the 24th of August. The water’s sitting at 62°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year—nothing extreme, just a little bonus.

Monday morning at Back Strands will see a clean 3ft swell rolling in from the west-northwest, with light cross-offshore winds. It’s not huge, but the wave energy is moderate (254), and it’s surfable. Then Monday afternoon is the real standout of the near-term. The wind drops to glassy, the swell ticks up slightly to 4ft from the west, and you’re getting those clean, lined-up waves with a moderate 10-second period. That afternoon session is the pick of the first week.

From Tuesday the 25th, things go downhill. Swell drops, wind picks up, and we’re looking at poor conditions straight through to the end of the month. There’s a long gap with no real recommendations—about 8 days of small, messy, or onshore slop. The 30th of August offers a tiny glimmer with a clean 2ft wave, but it’s barely worth wetting a wetsuit.

Moving into September, the swell starts to build again. Wednesday the 2nd sees a 4ft west swell, but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy, so it’s not great for surfing. The 3rd of September has a 5ft swell with a 10-second period and clean conditions, but the wind is howling—19 mph in the morning and a near gale of 34 mph in the afternoon. That’s more of a kite day than a paddle day, especially at a reef setup like Back Strands.

Now, the best prospect of the whole outlook is Saturday the 5th of September. We get a solid 7ft swell from the west-southwest, with a long 12-second period and clean conditions in the morning. The combined energy is strong (1532). This is proper groundswell, and it’s going to be powerful. For a reef break like Back Strands, that long period should wrap in nicely and give some great shape. However, it’s over 5ft, so beginners should think twice—this one’s for the experienced crew. The crowds can be a factor here sometimes, so get in early.

Sunday the 6th and early the following week bring big swells but onshore or onshore winds, and the 7th sees a massive 12ft west-northwest swell with a 17-second period. That is very long-period groundswell, and the energy is through the roof (6720). But with strong onshore winds, it’s going to be wild and messy—definitely experts only, and even then, it might be a battle.

So, to sum it up: your best bet is Monday afternoon the 24th for clean, glassy fun waves. The standout is Saturday morning the 5th of September for a proper, powerful session if you’ve got the skills. The rest is a waiting game.

Stay frothy,
Rusty.

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