Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s cut straight to it – the next two weeks are a proper mixed bag, with a whole lot of waiting around and only a couple of windows that are actually worth getting excited about. The first week is mostly rubbish, but there’s one decent pulse that stands out above the rest. The second week looks pretty grim for the most part, with only a glimmer of hope.

Right off the bat, things are flat and messy. Friday and Saturday are a write-off – we’re looking at tiny, weak swell hanging around 1 to 3 feet, and the wind is all over the shop, blowing cross-onshore and kicking up chop. Water temp is sitting at 62°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing while you’re staring at it.

Sunday stays small with a glassy morning, but there just isn’t any power behind it. Then it’s a waiting game – Monday the 24th sees a slight lift, with the swell picking up to around 3 to 4 feet. The energy is moderate (265 on the combined scale), and the morning has a clean cross-off wind. It’s surfable, but it’s nothing to write home about – just enough to get wet if you’re desperate.

Tuesday and Wednesday are back to small, weak conditions. The swell drops off and the wind stays onshore or cross-off, but it’s just not doing anything. You’re better off doing maintenance on your boards.

Then comes the standout. Thursday the 27th is the one to circle on the calendar. The swell jumps up to 7 feet in the morning from the WNW, and the energy is strong – reading 574. The period is short at 8 seconds, so it’s not a classic groundswell, but there’s plenty of push. The morning wind is a light cross-off, which is perfect, and by the afternoon it goes glassy with the swell still solid at 6 feet. This is the best on offer in the whole window. That said, at 7 feet, this is pushing past what beginners should be looking at – this is one for the crew who know what they’re doing. Back Strands is a reef, fairly exposed to the west, and this direction is right in its wheelhouse. It’s fairly consistent, so you won’t be sitting there for ages between sets, but with the good conditions, you can expect some company – crowds are likely.

Friday the 28th is a bust. The wind swings onshore and howls at 19 mph, and the swell gets chopped up despite still having some size. Saturday and Sunday are back to smaller, crumbly conditions – not worth the paddle.

Now, looking further out. Monday the 31st of August has a bit of size again – 6 feet – but the energy is moderate to strong (561), the wind is light but cross-shore, and the forecast notes are mixed about the quality. It’s a marginal call, and the tide could muck it up. Tuesday the 1st of September sees the swell drop back down and the wind turn against us.

And that’s about it. From the 2nd of September onwards, it’s a total fade-out. We’re looking at small, weak swell that never gets above 2 feet, and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, blowing hard at times. There’s a surprise long-period reading of 12 seconds on the 3rd, but the swell height is a pathetic 0.5 feet, so that’s just a tease. The last few days are a blank run of nothing – typical for this stretch. It’s been a while since we’ve had a real run of surf, and this pattern can stick around, but forecasts can flip. Don’t hold your breath.

So, the plan is simple: wait for Thursday the 27th. That’s your window. Get out there early, enjoy the clean glass and the push, and make the most of it. Everything else in the next fortnight is a skunk.

Rusty.

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