Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for this stretch. We’ve got a solid 16-day window, but honestly, the first couple of weeks are a bit of a write-off. We’re looking at a long, grim stretch of poor conditions from the start right through to mid-September. The only real glimmer of hope, and it’s a beauty, is way out at the end of the forecast. So, strap in.

The first real chance of a wave comes on Friday the 18th of September. That’s the standout. Up until then, it’s a tough watch. From the 4th of September, we’ve got a massive gap of nearly two weeks with nothing worthwhile. There’s a lot of wind and heavy swell making a mess of things at Back Strands. The combined energy of all swells is massive early on, hitting 4217 (off the charts), but it’s all cross-onshore gale-force wind from the West at 28 mph, which just rips it apart. The water temperature is 62°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s not much comfort when you’re getting blown off the face.

We get a tiny bit of relief on the 5th of September, with a 5 ft wave from the WNW (10-second period) and a light cross-offshore breeze, but it’s a one-off blip in a sea of poor scores. The end of the first week and all of the second week are dominated by strong breezes, mostly cross or cross-on, with heights up to 13 ft but all blown out. This is a proper beach-and-reef setup, and honestly, with the wind and the size of the swell, it looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing for most of that run.

Now, hold on. Thursday the 17th of September, we get a little sign of life. A 5 ft groundswell from the West (10-second period) with a light cross-offshore breeze, but the conditions are still described as “very ordinary.” The real magic happens on Friday the 18th of September. That’s the day. We’ve got an 8 ft swell from the WNW (10-second period) in the morning, and the combined energy is a solid 1326, which is a proper push. The wind is a light offshore breeze, and by the afternoon it goes glassy, with a slight air. The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” That’s a standout. The swell direction is West-northwest, which aligns with the optimum for this break. The only thing to be aware of is that Back Strands is a reef break and can be inconsistent, so don’t expect a wave every minute. The crowds are a possibility here, as it’s known to get busy. This is a proper groundswell, long period, and a reef break like this will handle it beautifully. It will be clean, powerful, and the wait for sets will be worth it. It’s a bit over 8 ft, so this is strictly for the experts. The Saturday after that, the 19th, drops back to a 3 ft wave with clean, offshore conditions, but it’s back to ordinary.

So, the call is simple. The first two weeks are a hard pass. Mark your calendar for Friday the 18th of September. That’s the one.

Rusty.

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