Backdoor 4 Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mate, let’s break it down. This is a classic case of "too much of a good thing" at the start, then a solid run of proper surf later on. We’re looking at Backdoor 4, a reef break that’s exposed and very consistent, so it’s always in the mix. Water temp is 66°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no wetsuit drama.

First up, the early part of the forecast is a total write-off. Tuesday the 14th is flat with tiny waves and poor conditions, so don’t even bother. Wednesday the 15th is where it gets interesting, but it’s a bit of a beast. We’ve got a solid 10ft south swell, but that’s *too big* for this break – it’s going to be a washing machine. The combined energy hits a massive 1192 (moderate energy) in the morning, jumping to 1628 (strong) in the afternoon. That’s serious power. The south swell with a short period of 9 seconds means it’s going to be messy and lumpy, even with offshore winds. This is for experts only, and honestly, it’s more of a show than a surf.

Thursday the 16th is still big, with 8ft south swell, period dropping to 8 seconds. Energy is still high (630 to 676). The wind is offshore and clean, but the swell is still too big for a comfortable paddle. You’d have to be a seasoned charger to handle it.

We finally get a window of decent, manageable surf from Friday the 17th, but it’s nothing special. 3ft to 3ft, short period, and the conditions are just ordinary. Saturday the 18th is a bit of a mixed bag, with a small 2ft south swell in the morning and a 5ft ESE in the afternoon, but the wind is cross-off and the quality is marginal.

Now, the *real* standout starts to build from Sunday the 19th. We’ve got a 7ft east swell, period climbing to 10-11 seconds, and the energy is strong (899 to 1089). The wind is clean cross-off. This is the first day where it starts to look genuinely good. The swell direction (E) is spot on for Backdoor 4’s optimum (E). This is a long period groundswell, so expect proper, well-shaped waves with longer lulls between sets. It’s going to be a ripper.

Monday the 20th is still solid, with 5ft ENE swell, but the wind goes cross-shore, which will put a little bump on the face. It’s still surfable, just not as clean as Sunday.

Then we hit a bit of a lull from Tuesday the 21st through to Wednesday the 22nd, with smaller swell and onshore or cross winds. Nothing to get excited about.

The next big winner is Thursday the 23rd. This is a potential session of the week. We’ve got a 6ft east swell, but the period jumps to a very long 13 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, and the combined energy is 998 (strong). The kicker? Glassy conditions in the morning. That is a rare treat. The swell is a bit too big for beginners, but for intermediates and up, this is going to be clean, powerful, and lined up. The longer period also means the sets will be waiting, so you can pick your waves. Afternoon gets a bit cross-shore, but morning is the call.

The rest of the run into the end of the month is promising but not as clean. Friday the 24th has a 5ft east swell, but cross-onshore winds. Saturday the 25th has a 5ft east swell, with a strong offshore wind in the afternoon (25 mph), which will be clean but hard to paddle into. Sunday the 26th has a solid 5ft east swell with a moderate offshore wind – clean and fun. Monday the 27th is a bit smaller, but the afternoon session on the 27th has a 5ft south swell with clean conditions.

The real cherry on top is Tuesday the 28th. We’ve got a 5ft south swell, period 11 seconds, and a gentle offshore wind. The energy is 760 (strong). The forecast says "expect very good surf conditions." This is a full standout. The south swell isn’t the optimum direction (E is best), but it’s still a great match, and the offshore wind will make it glassy. This is a solid day for a long session.

If you’re picking one day, Thursday the 23rd morning is the clear winner for peak quality and clean conditions. Tuesday the 28th is a close second for consistent, clean, powerful surf. The rest of the month is a mix of decent and surfable, with a few days of overhead, clean waves.

Rusty.

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