Baggies Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Baggies, and I’ve gotta say–this is not an easy window for scoring waves. We’ve got a long stretch ahead, with a few flickers of hope, but plenty of gritty, cross-shore days too. The water’s running at 73.2°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a bit of a comfort when you’re sitting out there waiting.

Let’s start with the opening session on Saturday the 25th. We’ve got a solid 5.2 ft swell rolling in from the SSE with a combined energy of 652 (moderate energy). But don’t get too excited–the wind is light from the SSE, onshore, and the surf looks marginal. That SE direction isn’t what we want either, as the optimum for Baggies is SE, so it's side-shore at best. Score’s low here.

Sunday the 26th morning drops to 4.6 ft from the SE, period a short 9 seconds, but that NE wind is blowing 12 mi/h cross-shore and it’s got a cross-chop already. Not pretty. By the afternoon, it’s even smaller at 2.6 ft from the SSW with a longer 13-second period, but NE winds crank up to 15 mi/h and the conditions are just poor.

Monday the 27th flicks up a 5.2 ft NE swell in the morning, but with a tiny 7-second period and E winds 3 mi/h cross-on, it’s weak and choppy. The afternoon is a write-off with 2.0 ft and 22 mi/h SSW winds.

Tuesday the 28th is messy. Light rain both sessions. Morning brings a 1.6 ft SSW swell with an 18-second period, but it’s cross-on at 25 mi/h–horrible. The afternoon jumps to 6.6 ft from the S with a 7-second period, but still cross-on and choppy. Forget it.

Now I’ll say this: we’ve got a few sessions that stand out. Wednesday the 29th morning has 5.6 ft from the SSE, 8-second period, combined energy 663 (moderate energy). The wind is WSW at 9 mi/h and it’s cross-offshore. The wave comment calls it clean, and the score is just marginal, but hey, it’s the cleanest we’ve seen so far. Not a standout for the whole run, but a small window.

The real highlight is Thursday the 30th morning. This is the one. Baggies (the only spot here) will see 5.6 ft from the SE at 9 seconds, combined energy 540 (moderate energy), and the wind is ENE at 3 mi/h and glassy. Zero wind ripples. The surf comment says “expect very good surf conditions,” and the score is the highest of the entire forecast. This is your best bet in the first week, no doubt. The SE direction matches the optimum, so the waves will have shape. Crowds can be a factor here sometimes, so get in early.

After that, we hit a run of nothing special. Friday the 31st sees 3.6 ft from the SE, light cross-on winds, poor conditions. Saturday the 1st of August morning has 5.2 ft from the SE with glassy ENE winds and a score of 2–good conditions but not as strong as Thursday. The afternoon is marginal again.

Sunday the 2nd of August morning is another possible standout–6.9 ft from the SE, 10-second period, combined energy 874 (moderate energy), NNE winds at 15 mi/h cross-offshore, and the comment is “clean.” That’s a decent push of swell with clean faces, but it’s close to the 8.2 ft mark and cross-offshore winds can be tricky. Still, if you’re an experienced surfer, this could be a solid session. The afternoon goes cross-shore and messy though.

The second week gets a bit lumpy. Monday the 3rd to Wednesday the 5th of August we’ve got persistent 5.9 ft to 7.5 ft swells from the ESE, periods between 10 and 12 seconds, but all cross-shore NE winds between 9 and 15 mi/h. The combined energy hits a strong 1647 on Tuesday the 4th morning (that’s moderate-to-strong energy), but with cross-shore winds and lumpy chop, it’s hard work. This setup would be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, honestly.

Thursday the 6th of August morning drops to 4.9 ft from the E, 10 seconds, still cross-shore. Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th are more of the same–5.2 ft swells, short periods, cross-shore winds. Not much to hang your hat on.

Sunday the 9th of August morning looks a bit spicy with 7.9 ft from the SSW at 9 seconds, combined energy 1401 (strong energy), but the wind is S at 12 mi/h cross-on and it’s choppy. That one’s only for the hardcore,

Read more