Big Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me tell ya how it’s looking for Big Beach.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start here, but the story picks up nicely later on. The first real action comes Friday morning, August 14th. We’re looking at a clean 4ft south swell, with a solid 14-second period pushing some moderate energy into the beach (531). The wind is a gentle offshore breeze from the NE, so it’ll be glassy and clean. This is a beginner-friendly setup, but the swell is small enough for anyone to have a go. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

The afternoon gets a bit lumpy as the wind picks up and turns cross-offshore, but the swell drops a touch. Saturday morning, the 15th, sees a fresh offshore wind, but it’s strong enough to make paddling a chore, and the swell is down to 3ft. The energy is moderate (264). It’s clean, but not easy.

The rest of the first week and into the second is pretty ordinary. Through the 16th to the 23rd, we’re mostly looking at waist-high or smaller surf, with periods ranging from 12 to 18 seconds and moderate energy levels. The wind is often cross-off or glassy, which keeps it clean, but the wave heights are pretty gutless – mostly 2ft to 2ft. There’s a long-period groundswell from the SSW on the 20th and 21st, but it’s just too small to get excited about. The 16th has a big 16-second period, but it’s a messy cross-shore wind that day.

Then things start to turn around. The standout is Monday morning, August 24th. The swell is still small at 3ft, but it’s a clean SSW groundswell (14 seconds) with moderate energy (297) and a gentle offshore NE wind. The conditions will be clean and fun for a log or a longboard.

But the real highlight – the best on offer – is Tuesday morning, August 25th. The swell jumps a bit in period to 16 seconds, with a solid 415 energy reading from the SSW. The height is still only 2ft, but that long-period groundswell will wrap in nicely with a gentle offshore breeze. For a point break or reef setup, this would be magic, but at Big Beach, a beach break, that long period might make it a bit straight. Still, it’s the cleanest, most promising window in the whole forecast.

Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th keep the trend going with moderate offshore winds and 3ft to 3ft SSW swell, offering consistent, clean surf. The energy stays moderate (433 on Wednesday morning). Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th round out the forecast with similar clean, small conditions.

If you’re a beginner, the morning of the 14th is your best bet. For everyone else, aim for the 24th through the 27th. The surf won’t be big, but it’ll be clean and fun. Remember, this is a long-range call for the later dates, so keep an eye on the wind.

Rusty.

Read more