Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Back Strands. The next couple of weeks are a mixed bag, with a real wait for the good stuff. We’ve got a few days of rough and messy conditions to get through first, but there’s a proper window of clean surf coming in the second week.

Right off the bat, Saturday the 12th is a write-off. We’ve got a 7ft west swell, but that’s being hammered by a 22 mph cross-shore wind. The water is 60°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s no comfort when the surf is a lumpy, cross-chop mess. Sunday the 13th is a step in the right direction with the swell dropping to 4ft from the WNW and light cross-off winds. The combined energy is weak (280), and it’s small, but it’ll be clean. That’s your best bet for a gentle paddle if you just need to get wet. The following weekdays through to the 17th are mostly blown out or too small, with onshore gales and building swell making for dangerous, messy conditions. The 17th sees a 8ft to 10ft W swell, but with strong cross-onshore winds over 25 mph, that’s a hard pass.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. After that rough patch, we get a standout. Monday the 21st of September is the pick of the entire forecast. The wind swings light and offshore from the SSE in the morning, with a clean 6ft WNW swell. The combined energy is moderate (684), and the conditions will be glassy. This is the one to circle on your calendar – clean, lined-up waves with an offshore breeze. Tuesday the 22nd holds a bit of that magic, too, with a glassy afternoon session on a 4ft WNW swell, though it’s a touch smaller and the energy is a bit lower (416). It’s still a great option.

The real punch comes on Saturday the 26th of September. We’re looking at a long-period, 15-second groundswell from the WNW, hitting 6ft in the morning. The combined energy is strong (1358), and with a light offshore breeze, the waves will have real power and shape. This one’s got excellent potential for experienced surfers – that period is very long, so expect clean, powerful lines. It’s going to be best at the reef, where the long-period swell will really stand up. The wind holds clean, so get on it early before the cross-shore kicks in later in the day.

To sum it up: the next week is mostly a bust with strong winds and messy surf. Focus on the clean morning of Monday the 21st for a fun, manageable session, and the standout is definitely Saturday the 26th of September for the big, clean, long-period groundswell. That’s the one worth waiting for.

Rusty.

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