Blacks Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Right off the bat, things are looking pretty flat and uninspiring for the next week. The only spot on the radar is Blacks Beach, and for the first several days, the surf is small and the conditions are just not cooperating. We’ve got a long stretch of weak, grovelly waves with a cross-onshore or onshore wind, making it tough to get excited. The water is a warm 73°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – feels like a bath, but the waves are letting us down.

We start on Wednesday, 26 August with a small 3ft swell from the SW, but the wind is a light cross-onshore, making it a bit bumpy. The combined swell energy is only 332 (weak) – not much to work with. Thursday and Friday are similar, with tiny 2ft to 3ft SW swells and cross-onshore winds. The energy is in the low to mid hundreds, and the wave comment keeps saying “poor” or “marginal.” The surf is just not there.

The weekend (Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August) sees a little bump in swell energy, with the combined energy climbing to 906 and 714 (moderate), but the swell is only 4ft to 4ft from the SSW. The wind turns offshore in the mornings, which is a big positive – cleaner surfaces. But the wave state is still “marginal” and the overall score is low. It’s not a total washout, but it’s not a standout either.

We then hit a dry spell from Monday 31 August through Tuesday 1 September, with swell dropping to 1ft and energy down to 53 (weak). Absolutely nothing happening.

Then things get interesting around Wednesday 2 September. The swell jumps to 6ft from the SSW, with a period of 13 seconds, and the combined energy is 981 (strong). But the wind is a moderate cross-onshore from the NNW at 12 mph, turning the surface choppy. It only gets bigger on Thursday 3 September, with 7ft SSW swell and energy of 1286 (strong), but again cross-onshore winds. The wave state is “fairly choppy,” and the setup is better for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The waves are too big and messy for a good session.

From Friday 4 September onwards, the swell settles back to 3ft to 4ft from the SSW, with offshore winds making for better conditions. The energy is still in the 600-800 range (moderate). But the surf quality is still only “marginal” or “poor.” It’s frustrating because the wind is right, but the swell just isn’t there.

The best bet in this whole 16-day window is probably Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August, when we get a little more size (4ft to 4ft) and clean offshore winds. The swell direction is SSW, which is not the optimum for Blacks Beach (it likes WNW), but with the long period (15-16 seconds) and clean conditions, there will be some rideable, lined-up waves. The energy is moderate, so it’s not a total washout. The crowds at Blacks Beach can be often, so expect company.

The long-range forecast into early September is a bit more promising, but those waves on the 2nd and 3rd are too big and choppy for a good paddle session. The week after that looks small again.

So, overall, it’s a tough run. The first week is mostly flat, the second week has a pulse of swell but with messy wind. No real standouts, but if you’re keen, the clean offshore mornings on the weekend of 29-30 August are your best shot.

Rusty.

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