Black Middens Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next few weeks.

Well, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – this is a rough run. We’re looking at a long, dry spell with basically nothing worth paddling out for. The forecast shows a gap of over a week with no real surf to speak of. The first chance of anything that might get you half-wet isn’t until the very end of the month, and even then, it’s a gamble.

The only spot on the radar is Black Middens. It’s a sheltered reef setup, but it’s inconsistent, so don’t go planning your week around it. The water temp is sitting at 59°, which is just about bang on for the time of year, nothing unusual there.

The first glimmer of hope comes on Thursday the 27th of August. The morning session is clean with a light cross-offshore breeze, but the swell is a weak 4ft from the ENE. The combined energy is only 147 (moderate), so it’s not packing much punch. The afternoon looks a touch better, with a 4ft swell and still clean, but the forecast says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s a 1/10, honestly not much to shout about. You might get a couple if you’re desperate, but it’s not quality.

Then we hit another dead zone. The next real chance isn’t until Wednesday the 2nd of September. The morning is clean again with a cross-offshore breeze, and a 5ft swell from the NNE. The combined energy jumps to 383 (moderate), so there’s a bit more push. The afternoon could be the pick of the entire forecast: a 5ft swell from the NNE, with a 10-second period, and a gentle offshore wind. The conditions are clean. This is the standout. The period is long enough to get some decent shape, but it’s a beach-and-reef setup, so that longer period might make it a bit fat and straight. Still, it’s the best we’ve got.

If you’re a beginner, watch out for the swell on the 1st of September. It hits 6ft, but with a strong cross-onshore wind, it’s going to be a choppy mess and too big for learning. By the 2nd of September, the swell is 5ft, which is still on the edge for novices, so take care.

There’s a bit of a pulse on the 3rd of September, but it’s small (3ft) and the wind is messy. After that, it’s back to tiny, weak waves through the rest of the first week of September. The 5th and 6th are a write-off, with barely any energy.

So, to sum it up: the only real standout is the afternoon of Wednesday the 2nd of September at Black Middens. It’s not a classic, but it’s the cleanest, most powerful window we get. The rest of the month is a test of patience.

Rusty.

Read more