Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Back Strands over the next couple of weeks. I gotta be straight with you – it’s a pretty lean stretch, with a lot of flat spells and messy conditions. There’s no real standout in the first week, but toward the end of the two-week window, we might see a pulse of energy.

The first real chance to get wet comes in on Saturday the 8th of August. We’ve got a weak WNW swell pushing in at about 4ft, but the period is only 9 seconds – not a lot of grunt behind it. The combined energy is a modest 308 (moderate), and the water temp is about average for the time of year, so nothing crazy there. Saturday morning has a cross-off wind from the S at 12 mph, making for a clean surface, but the score is low and conditions are marginal. The afternoon stays pretty average with a cross-shore breeze chopping things up.

Sunday the 9th and Monday the 10th are pretty flat. Sunday morning goes offshore but the swell drops to 4ft, and the wind is straight onshore by the afternoon. Monday morning sees the swell shrink to 2ft, but the late afternoon on Monday is interesting – a glassy, windless spell with 2ft waves from the WNW. It’s ordinary, but if you’re desperate, you might get a few clean little rollers.

From Tuesday the 11th right through to the end of the second week, the forecast is mostly poor. There’s a gap of several days with no real surf on offer. The swell drops to barely a ripple – 1.0ft and 0.7ft on Tuesday, with weak energy values like 19 and 20. That’s pretty much flat. It stays small through the middle of the month, with onshore winds and chop making it a write-off.

Then, around Friday the 21st of August, we start to see a change. A bigger WNW swell builds in, reaching 6ft to 7ft with a 9-second period and combined energy jumping to 588 and 609 (strong). That’s a solid pulse of energy. The wind is cross-off from the SSW, which keeps the surface clean. This is the best window in the whole outlook. Saturday the 22nd sees even more size – 7ft from the WNW – but the wind swings cross-on at 16 mph, so it’ll be choppy and messy. That’s one for the experts only, and honestly, it’s more of a kite-surfing setup with that strong wind.

Thursday the 20th of August is a quiet little moment – glassy calm winds and 1ft waves, but it’s just too small to get excited about.

So, the pick of the two weeks is Friday the 21st of August. The swell is 6ft to 7ft from the W, the period is 9 seconds, and with a clean cross-off breeze, it’ll be the most surfable day. Just keep in mind the crowds are *sometimes* an issue at Back Strands, but with conditions so poor for so long, it might not be too packed. This is a reef break, and the W swell direction is a good match for the optimum direction. It’s not a perfect day, but it’s the best we’ve got.

Stay patient, and check the forecasts again – these long-range calls can shift. Rusty out.

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