Big Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what’s on the menu for Big Beach.

Look, we’ve got a long stretch ahead, and I’ll be straight with you: it’s not going to be one for the history books. The whole 16-day window is filled with small, clean but pretty ordinary conditions. There are no real standout days that will get the pulse racing – it's more of a long, steady grind of smaller south swells. The water temp is pretty much what you'd expect for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We kick off Sunday, August 16. It's small, with a 3 ft south swell running at a very long 16 seconds. That period is noteworthy – it's a proper groundswell. For a beach break like Big Beach, a period that long can make the waves break a bit too straight and wall up, making it tricky to find a good pocket. It’s not ideal for this setup. The combined energy is a moderate 572, but the wind is a cross-off from the ESE at 12 mph, which should keep things tidy enough for a beginner session. There are thunderstorms about, though. Afternoon drops to 2 ft but the wind lightens.

Monday the 17th looks a little better for the early crew. We’ve got the same 3 ft south swell, but the period has dropped to a still-healthy 14 seconds. The big win here is the morning wind – a proper offshore from the ENE at 12 mph. That’s going to groom the faces nicely. The energy is at 300. It’s a solid option for a learner or longboarder if the tide is right, but nothing for the rippers.

The rest of that week and into the next is a real grind. From Tuesday the 18th right through to Sunday the 23rd, we’re looking at puny 2 ft to 2 ft swells. The period drops to around 12-13 seconds on the weakest days. Winds are mostly light and cross-off or offshore, which is nice for the skin, but the wave height just isn’t there. The energy levels drop into the 100s and low 200s – weak stuff. There’s a little spike on Thursday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd with moderate energy in the high 200s on a 2 ft SSW swell, but it’s still just ordinary, surfable waves.

Now, the second week gets a tiny bit more interesting. By Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th, we see a consistent offshore wind pattern from the NE, still on a small 2 ft to 2 ft SSW swell. The standout moment comes on Tuesday morning the 25th of August. The swell is 2 ft from the SSW with a period of 16 seconds, giving a moderate but punchy combined energy of 403. The wind is a light offshore from the NE at just 6 mph. That combination of light offshore wind and that long-period energy will mean clean, glassy lines, though it'll still be small and a bit fat for a beach break. It’s the best-looking session of the whole run.

Wednesday the 26th has a similar energy level at 561 on a slightly bigger 3 ft swell, but the wind turns cross-off, taking a little polish off the wave. Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th continue with that small 2-3 ft south swell and light winds, but the energy backs off a touch. We’re still in the 200-300 range for energy. Then we close out the last weekend of August with a step down in size again, back to 2-2 ft and poor surf conditions from the 29th right through to the 31st, with the wind picking up and the energy dropping below 300.

The one to aim for? If you’re going to paddle out, make it Tuesday morning, August 25. It’s the best combo of clean offshore wind and the highest comparative swell energy for a beach break that doesn’t like the very long period. It’s still small, but it’s your best chance at a smooth, glassy session on a clean little runner.

Stay patient, and stay wet.

Rusty

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