Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for the next couple of weeks.

We’re starting a bit slow, but there’s some real quality on the horizon. The first good window is Wednesday morning, September 9th, at Blacks Reef. We’ve got a clean 5 ft swell coming from the SE with a period of 8 seconds. The wind is glassy – WNW at 3 mph. It’ll be smooth as silk out there. The combined energy is moderate (327), enough to push you along. Good conditions for a beginner-friendly reef break.

Later Wednesday afternoon, the wind swings ENE and picks up to 9 mph, turning cross-offshore. The swell drops a touch to 5 ft, and the energy dips a bit (262). It’s still rideable, but the morning session is the one to target.

Thursday morning, September 10th, the swell drops to 3 ft with only 101 energy – pretty weak. Thursday afternoon is even smaller, down to 2 ft. Not worth paddling out for.

Friday, September 11th, kicks off with a bumpy 7 ft S swell at 7 seconds under a strong S wind at 12 mph. That’s onshore and messy. The energy jumps to 589, but it’s blown out. Friday afternoon sees a weird mix: a tiny 2 ft S swell with a very long 18-second period, but cross-onshore wind. The period is so long it’ll be hard to catch at this reef, especially with the short period swell mixing in.

Saturday, September 12th, is a write-off – strong onshore winds and rain, with swell energy all over the place but no quality.

Now, Sunday, September 13th, brings a bigger S swell – 8 ft in the morning, building to 8 ft in the afternoon, with a long 16-second period. The energy is strong (2900 morning, 3784 afternoon). But the wind is onshore and cross-onshore, so it’s choppy and lumpy. At over 8 ft, this is expert-only territory, and the wind is ruining it. Not recommended.

The real standout is Monday, September 14th. This is the best on offer. Morning sees a clean 7 ft S swell from the south, 12-second period, with a light NW cross-offshore wind at 6 mph. Energy is strong (1315). The afternoon is even better: 6 ft S swell, 13-second period, with a glassy ENE wind at 3 mph. The water temp is about average for this time of year – no big anomaly. Conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. This is the day to clear your schedule.

Tuesday, September 15th, is a nice little recovery. Morning has a 4 ft S swell with cross-shore wind, but the afternoon turns glassy with a 4 ft S swell. It’s smaller, but clean.

From Wednesday, September 16th, through to Sunday, September 20th, it’s a rough patch. Strong winds, onshore or cross-onshore, and lumpy seas. There are a few glimpses of bigger swell energy (like 1658 on Monday, September 21st), but the wind is always cross-shore and messy. Not worth it.

Then, Tuesday, September 22nd – this is a huge call. We’re looking at a 13 ft S swell hitting the reef. The combined energy is massive (3581 morning, 3955 afternoon). The wind is offshore and glassy in the morning (NE at 3 mph), and cross-offshore in the afternoon. But here’s the thing: at 13 ft, this is way too big for Blacks Reef. It’s only for absolute experts, and even then, it might be a washing machine. The file says it’s too big for this break. If you’re not a pro, sit this one out.

Wednesday, September 23rd, the swell drops to 6 ft with a cross-offshore NW wind. Clean waves, moderate energy (818). Much more manageable. Thursday, September 24th, fades out with a tiny 2 ft S swell and onshore wind.

Overall, the best bet is Monday, September 14th. If you’re a hardcore charger, Tuesday, September 22nd is a monster, but only for the very brave.

Rusty.

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