Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Back Strands. It’s a reef break, fairly exposed to the swell, and it likes the swell from the west. The water’s sitting at 61°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you can leave the steamer at home for a bit.

Alright, I’ll be straight with you. The next week and a half is a bit of a flat spell. There’s a bit of swell on the Sunday morning, but it’s a messy 4ft from the west with a short 9-second period, and a cross-shore wind is chopping it up. The combined energy is only 281 (moderate), but the conditions are just marginal. Not worth paddling out for.

That Monday morning, the 10th, drops to 2ft, and the wind is a light cross-onshore with small ripples. It’s poor. Tuesday drops even more. Honestly, we’re lookin’ at a solid week of nothing worth mentionin’ – tiny waves, 1ft to 2ft, and mostly poor conditions. The wind flips around but doesn’t bring anything clean. Thursday the 13th morning has a whiff of hope with 2ft from the west and a 10-second period, and the wind is offshore from the southeast, keepin’ it clean. The energy is 98 (weak), but it’s surfable, just very ordinary. That afternoon goes glassy, but it’s still tiny.

Friday the 14th through to the 17th is a write-off. Tiny surf, 1ft to 2ft, and cross-onshore winds. A few glassy moments but no real wave to ride.

Now, Tuesday the 18th morning – that’s a little standout. The swell jumps back up to 4ft from the west, with a 9-second period, and the wind is a clean cross-offshore from the south. The combined energy comes in at 269 (moderate), and it’s flagged as good surf conditions. It’s the best we’ve seen in a while. The break is a reef, so that short-period swell should wrap in nicely. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.

After that, it fades again. Wednesday the 19th through the 22nd is mostly poor, with cross-onshore winds and small, weak swell. The energy stays under 200, and the conditions are chop.

Lookin’ further out, Sunday the 23rd gets a bit of a pulse – 4ft to 5ft from the west with a long 11-second period, but the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, and the energy climbs to 352 and 457 (strong). The conditions are marked as poor, probably due to the wind. It’s a tease.

Monday the 24th morning is the real standout of the whole forecast. The swell hits 5ft from the west with a 10-second period, combined energy is a beefy 562 (strong), and the wind is offshore from the east-southeast. It’s flagged as good surf conditions. That’s a clean, solid, long-period groundswell on a reef. For the experts, that’s the one to circle. It’s over 5ft, so it’s gettin’ a bit meaty for beginners, but for anyone with some experience, it’ll be lined up. The afternoon goes onshore, so the morning window is the key.

So, if you’re lookin’ for a paddle, your best bet is the morning of the 18th for a fun, clean 4ft, and the absolute winner is the morning of the 24th with a clean 5ft. The rest of the run is flat or blown out. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but right now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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