Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what we’ve got.

Overall, we’re looking at a patchy run at Back Strands. There’s some decent potential early on and again late in the window, but the middle of the forecast is a write-off with strong, messy winds and big, lumpy conditions. You’ll need to pick your moments carefully.

Sunday morning the 13th is actually a nice little window. The swell is a clean 4ft out of the WNW with a solid 11-second period. Winds are light and offshore from the SSE, so the surface should be clean. The combined energy is moderate (279). It’s not huge, but it’s the best start we’ve got. The water is sitting at 60°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a nice little bonus.

Monday the 14th through to Saturday the 19th is a long, ugly stretch. Strong onshore and cross-onshore winds dominate, with swell sizes climbing well over 5ft and even hitting 12ft on Thursday the 17th. The energy gets wild (3487 on Thursday afternoon), but with that wind, it’s just a messy, lumpy, dangerous mess. Honestly, that kind of setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Stay out of the water unless you’re looking for a beating.

Now, Sunday morning the 20th is the standout. After a week of junk, the wind swings back offshore from the SSE, and we’ve got a proper 8ft WNW groundswell with a 13-second period. That’s a long-period groundswell, which will make for some real power and shape. Combined energy is very strong at 2415. This one’s for experienced surfers only—over 8ft and with that much energy, beginners should sit this out. The wind is moderate offshore, so expect clean, lined-up sets. The only downside is that at a reef break with that period, it might get a bit straight, but with the right tide it should be firing.

After that, things get messy again until Thursday morning the 24th. That’s another good one: a 6ft WNW swell, still decent period at 11 seconds, and the wind is glassy from the SSE. The energy is strong (813), and the surface will be like glass. It’s not the size of the 20th, but it’ll be clean and fun for a wider range of surfers. Friday the 25th holds up with offshore winds and 5ft swell, though the energy drops a bit (496). Still a good morning session.

The last few days of the window (26th onward) see the swell dropping back, with a small pulse on the 27th that looks too wind-affected to get excited about.

So the best on offer is clearly the Sunday morning the 20th for the experienced crew, and the Thursday morning the 24th for a cleaner, more manageable session. Don’t bother with the middle of the month—it’s a kiter’s playground, not a surfer’s.

Rusty.

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