Black Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Lookin’ at the next couple of weeks, it’s a bit of a slow starter but there’s a sneaky run of clean swell coming through the second week. The first few days are pretty ordinary, but hang tight—there’s a proper window of goodness if you’re patient.

The standout is Black Rock (reef, exposed, advanced only). The best bet is the morning of Monday, 3rd August. We’ve got a clean 5-foot swell from the southeast, 11-second period (groundswell), and glassy conditions—zero wind. That’s about as good as it gets around here. The combined energy is solid at 581 (moderate to strong), so there’s proper push behind it. Water temp is sittin’ around 69°F, which is about average for this time of year—no dramas there.

The run-up to that is rough. Friday 31 July morning is surfable but very ordinary—2-foot from the ENE with a cross-off wind, combined energy just 48 (weak). Afternoon gets messy with a 6-foot S swell and cross wind, poor conditions. Saturday 1 August and Sunday 2 August are tiny and inconsistent—a few inches, not worth paddling out for. The whole first weekend is a write-off.

Monday 3 August afternoon still has 5-foot from the SE (10 seconds) but the wind swings cross-on, so it’s not as clean. Tuesday 4 August through to Sunday 10 August is mostly small—1 to 2-foot—with glassy mornings but nothing with enough grunt to get excited about. The energy numbers are in the weak range (mostly under 100). You’ll get some clean surfaces but no real wave.

Then things start to build. Monday 10 August morning is still only 2-foot, but Tuesday 11 August morning brings 2-foot from the east with a 14-second period—clean offshore wind from the west, energy 138 (moderate). That’s a sign of better groundswell. The Tuesday 11 August afternoon is actually a hidden gem: 3-foot, east swell, 13 seconds, clean offshore wind from the west, energy 248—that’s solid for the size. The Wednesday 12 August is the second standout: morning and afternoon both have 3-foot from the east, 11 seconds, with offshore winds (WSW to W). The energy is 349 and 331—moderate, but with that offshore flow, the waves will be clean and lined up. Remember, this is a reef break, so the long-period east swell will hold up well here.

Thursday 13 August morning is still clean with 3-foot east swell, 11 seconds, and cross-off wind—energy 247—but the afternoon turns cross-on from the ENE, so it’s done. Friday 14 August is worth a paddle too: morning and afternoon both have 3-foot east swell, 11 seconds, offshore winds from the west, energy 253 and 302—clean and consistent.

Saturday 15 August tails off—3-foot, messy cross-on in the afternoon. That’s about it for the window.

Crowds at Black Rock can be a factor—it’s a popular spot, and with this run of clean swell, especially on the 3rd and 12th, expect company. This is an advanced-only break, and with swell over 5 feet on the 3rd, it’s not for beginners. The 3 to 3-foot days in the second week are more manageable but still require skill.

Bottom line: the first week is mostly a dud. The real action is Monday 3rd August morning (glassy, 5-foot, best of the lot) and then the run from Tuesday 11th afternoon through Friday 14th—clean offshore winds, consistent east swell, and proper energy. Get in the water.

Rusty

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