Big Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer at Big Beach.

To be honest, it’s a pretty quiet start to the forecast. We’ve got a bit of a lull on our hands. The first few days are looking weak, so don’t expect much to surf on until we get deeper into the period. The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is right about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Saturday morning, 1st August. We’ll see a small 2ft swell from the SSW, with a long period of 14 seconds. That’s a groundswell, and while it’s tiny, the wind is offshore from the ENE at 12 mph. That means the surface will be clean, and for a learner or someone on a log, there might be a fun little wave. It’s a very consistent break, so you’ll get plenty of waves, even if they are small. The combined energy is weak (169), so don’t drive across the island.

The real standout, and the one I’m getting a bit of a tingle over, is shaping up for Monday morning, 10th August. The swell builds to a solid 3ft from the SSW, with a period of 16 seconds. That’s a proper long-period groundswell. The combined energy jumps right up to 799 (moderate), which is a big step up from the weak stuff we’ve been seeing. The wind is light from the east at 6 mph, so it’s cross-offshore, keeping the waves clean. The forecast is calling for “very good surf conditions,” and I’d agree – this is the best on offer. It’s not too big for a confident intermediate, and the long period will mean some nice, lined-up waves. Keep in mind that because it’s a beach break, a long period swell can make it a bit straight, but the quality should be there.

Leading into that, Sunday morning, 9th August is also worth a mention. We’ll see 2ft from the SSW with a 19-second period. That’s a very long period, and the energy is strong (524). The wind is light from the east again, so it’s clean. That’s a solid day to get out before the peak on Monday.

After that, the swell drops back down, but there are a few more mornings with decent energy. Wednesday morning, 12th August has a 2ft swell from the west with a 14-second period, and light east winds giving clean conditions. The energy is moderate (385). Then Thursday morning, 13th August also looks clean with a 2ft, 17-second swell from the south and light winds, and moderate energy (384). Both are good smaller-scale days.

So, the window is late: the first week is mostly a write-off. The best day is Monday, 10th August, with Sunday the 9th as a strong runner-up. Get your skis ready for that weekend.

Rusty.

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