Blacks Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's have a look at what's coming our way.

Alright, we've got a pretty quiet stretch ahead for Blacks Beach. The surf is looking poor for a good run, with only marginal conditions creeping in from Wednesday the 19th of August onwards, but even then, it's not really offering much to get excited about. The good news is the water temperature is sitting at a balmy 72°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least a paddle won't be a shock to the system.

The first few days are a write-off. Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th are both showing poor surf conditions with cross-on winds and tiny swell around 2ft to 3ft. The combined wave energy is moderate, sitting between 348 and 411 (moderate energy), but the wind is making it choppy and messy. You'd be fighting a losing battle.

It's not until Wednesday the 19th that we see a slight shift, with the forecast moving to marginal. The swell remains small at 3ft from the SSW with a decent 16-second period (long-period groundswell). The wind is light and onshore Wednesday morning, but a light cross-onshore in the afternoon will put a few ripples on it. The combined energy is moderate, around 477 (moderate energy). It's still not great, but it's the best of a bad bunch for the first week. Thursday the 20th through to Saturday the 22nd of August is more of the same: tiny swell, light cross-onshore winds, and poor to marginal conditions. Honestly, there's nothing here worth paddling out for.

We then hit a bit of a gap from Sunday the 23rd to Saturday the 29th of August, with the forecast stuck on poor surf conditions and only occasional marginal calls. Swell stays below 3ft, winds are light and often onshore or cross-onshore. The combined energy remains moderate, but the quality just isn't there.

The standout period, and I mean the only real highlight, looks to be from Saturday the 29th of August into early September. We finally see the swell push up to 3ft to 4ft from the SSW, with a solid 16 to 17-second period. That's proper long-period groundswell, and for a spot like Blacks Beach (exposed to WNW, but picking up this SSW energy), it could offer some shape. The combined energy jumps to strong, hitting 746 (strong wave energy) on Saturday morning and staying in the 660 to 708 range through the start of September. The wind is light and cross-onshore or cross-shore, which is workable. This is the best on offer for the whole 16-day window. It's not a classic, but for those willing to wait, Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th of August, and Monday the 1st of September, are your best bets. Keep in mind, though, that with a long-period swell like this, the waves might break a bit straight at Blacks, and crowds are likely here – it's often busy. For experts only, as it can get a bit lumpy.

So, the long story short: a lot of waiting for a few marginal days. The setup doesn't look promising for paddle surfing until the end of August. If you're a kite surfer, the light to moderate cross-onshore winds and small swell through the middle of the period might be more your thing.

Rusty.

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