Big Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at the 16-day picture for the region.

To be honest, the outlook is a quiet one. We're looking at a long stretch of small, workable waves but nothing that will get the heart racing. The water is currently sitting at about 81°, which is bang on normal for this time of year, so you won't need a thick wetsuit.

The first real chance to get wet is from Tuesday, September 8th onwards. The swell is tiny, only around 3 ft from the SSW on Tuesday afternoon, but it's coming from a direction that matches the break's preference. The energy is moderate (1030), but the call is for marginal conditions. The real action starts to pick up on Wednesday, September 9th. The swell holds at 3 ft from the SSW, but the wind swings to a light ESE breeze, which is a cross-offshore wind. That means the surface will be clean and the waves will have a bit of shape. The energy is solid (393), and it's a standout for consistency and quality within this otherwise tame window.

Thursday, September 10th is a bit of a mixed bag. The morning drops to 2 ft, but the afternoon sees a switch to a light offshore from the ENE (12 mph). The swell is still small, but a clean offshore wind on a fairly exposed beach is always a good thing. The afternoon is the pick of the day.

The real highlight, however, arrives on Wednesday, September 16th and Thursday, September 17th. The swell pushes up to 3 ft - 3 ft from the SSW with a long period of 18 seconds. This is a groundswell, and it will hold a lot of energy. The combined energy readings are strong (428, 475, 453 over those days). The winds are light and cross-offshore, so the surf will be clean and well-shaped. This is the best run of the entire forecast. Friday, September 18th is also a cracker, with a solid offshore wind from the NE (12 mph) and 3 ft SSW swell (512 energy). Expect clean, punchy walls.

After that, the swell slowly fades. By the second week (from September 20th onwards), the energy drops, and the winds get stronger. The waves are still rideable, but it's ordinary. The period from Sunday, September 21st right through to the end of the forecast on the 23rd sees poor conditions with strong winds and a drop in quality. It's a blank run to finish the outlook.

So, to sum it up: the best windows are Wednesday the 9th and the run from Wednesday the 16th through Friday the 18th. The 16th to the 18th is the true standout – that groundswell with the light offshore winds will be the best the whole period has to offer. Crowds are always a possibility at Big Beach, so get in early.

Rusty.

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