Bethany Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The outlook for Bethany is a real slow burner. We’ve got a long stretch of tiny, weak surf before things finally pick up late in the first week of September. The water temperature is sitting at 77°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – pretty pleasant for a paddle.

Right now, and through the end of August, it’s mostly flat. We’re talking waves around 0.7 ft to 1 ft with combined energy levels barely cracking 30 (21 to 36). The swell is coming from the ESE with a period around 12 seconds, so there’s some long period groundswell in the background, but it’s just not big enough to do anything. Winds are light and often offshore or glassy, which would be great if there was any surf. Thursday the 27th afternoon sees a spike in energy to 76, but it’s a short period 5-second windswell – messy and won't deliver.

Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th are nothing special. Tiny waves, 1 ft, with the energy still weak. Saturday morning is glassy, but with only 1 ft on offer, it’s barely a ripple.

We’ve got a gap until Monday the 31st of August. That day the energy jumps to 151 in the morning and 102 in the afternoon, but the swell height is still a disappointing 1 ft. Long period though, at 18-19 seconds. It’s surfable but very ordinary.

The first real sign of life shows up on Tuesday the 1st of September. Morning sees 2 ft of ESE swell, 15-second period, with combined energy of 234 (moderate). Winds are a gentle breeze from the south – cross-offshore. Conditions are clean, and the forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” This is the first standout. The swell is small but long-period, which will favour the beach/jetty setup here, but just be aware that long period can make beach breaks a bit straight. Crowds are sometimes a factor here, so with the first rideable waves in over a week, you might have company.

Wednesday the 2nd of September has similar size (3 ft) and more energy (255-283), but the wind is stronger, up to 19 mph from the WNW, which is cross-off. It’s clean, but the rating is lower. Not bad, but Tuesday morning looks better.

Thursday the 3rd of September is where things get interesting for experienced surfers. The morning brings 4 ft from the ESE with a massive energy reading of 761 and a 16-second period. The wind is cross-on from the north, so it’s a bit choppy. By the afternoon, the swell jumps to 6 ft with the energy going through the roof at 2429 – strong to very strong wave energy. Period is 15 seconds. Winds become cross-shore from the NW. This is a solid swell, but at 6 ft it’s getting into the range where it’s better for more experienced surfers. The long period groundswell will bring plenty of power and longer lulls between sets.

Friday the 4th of September holds similar size: 5 ft in the morning, 5 ft in the afternoon, with energy still very strong (1045-1241). Winds are cross-offshore from the WNW, keeping it clean. This is the peak of the run. The afternoon has the best rating of the whole outlook. The swell direction is ESE, which is off the optimum ENE direction for Bethany, but the size and clean conditions make it the best bet for a proper session.

By Saturday the 5th, the swell drops back to 3 ft and the energy fades to 331. It’s still surfable but not the standout.

From Sunday the 6th through to the end of the outlook, the swell fades fast. Down to 2 ft, then back to tiny 0.7 ft by the 8th of September. Another flat spell settles in.

So the pick of the window is Thursday the 3rd of September afternoon for the biggest, most powerful swell, and Friday the 4th of September afternoon for the best combination of size, clean cross-off wind, and the highest rating. Tuesday the 1st of September morning is your best early option for small, clean waves.

- Rusty

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