Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me tell you how it's shaping up for Blacks Reef.

It’s a bit of a slow start, but patience will pay off. The first decent window kicks off on Tuesday, September 15th with a clean, waist-high 5ft southerly swell rolling in. That morning the wind is light offshore from the NNE and the water is glassy. It’s not huge, but with the combined swell energy sitting at 481 (moderate energy), it’s a good, manageable option for beginners and those easing into the week.

Tuesday afternoon sees the wind shift and pick up from the ENE, making conditions more of a cross-off breeze, so the waves get a bit bumpier and the quality drops. The energy is still there at 399, but the session loses its sparkle.

Wednesday the 16th drops down to 3ft from the SSE. The morning is dead calm—glassy conditions with only a 5 km/h WNW breeze. It’s pretty ordinary though, and the energy has dropped right off to 155 (weak). Fine for a longboard if you’re not fussy.

Thursday the 17th is still small, and by Thursday afternoon the wind turns onshore, and the quality disappears. Friday the 18th gets ugly early. The wind howls onshore from the SSW, 30 km/h in the morning, with rain. By the afternoon it’s 40 km/h onshore and the swell jumps to a messy 8ft with a short, weak period of just 7 seconds. Not surfable. This poor run continues through the weekend. Saturday the 19th sees a jumpy 6ft but it’s cross-on and sloppy. The energy is 659 (moderate), but the conditions are rough.

Sunday the 20th is just as bleak—clean wind in the morning but it’s cross-on and choppy. Monday the 21st is where things get interesting again. There’s a clean 4ft groundswell from the south with a very long 19-second period. The energy reading is 2058 (strong to very strong), and with light offshore NNE winds, it’s going to be clean and powerful. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The long period will make it better for a reef like Blacks Reef—set waves will pulse through, but the wait between sets could be longer. The afternoon holds a solid 5ft with a 17-second period and clean conditions (1479 energy). This is the standout period of the forecast—Monday 21st September.

Tuesday the 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd take a sharp turn for the worse with onshore gales. By Wednesday morning, the swell jumps to a dangerous 15ft, SSW, 40 km/h winds. The energy reading is 4318 (very strong). This is a massive storm swell—expert only, and honestly, with the wind howling onshore, it looks more like a kiteboarding day than a surfing one.

Thursday the 24th still has size—10 to 13ft—but the winds are still onshore, though easing by the afternoon to a lighter southerly. The energy readings are 9617 in the morning and 2622 in the afternoon. The afternoon is still marginal, but if the wind continues to drop, there may be some big, lumpy waves.

Friday the 25th is cross-on and choppy. Not recommended.

Into the next weekend, Saturday the 26th is small and cross-on again. Sunday the 27th, however, is another gem. The morning is completely glassed out—zero wind, with a clean 2ft from the SE, 12-second period, and energy at 215 (weak). Small, but clean as a whistle. Great for a longboard or a fun, small-wave session.

Monday the 28th is very promising. The swell jumps to a 8ft southerly with a short 8-second period, but the wind is light offshore from the NNE in the afternoon, making for clean waves. The energy is 1198 (strong). This is solid and clean—excellent for experienced surfers. Tuesday the 29th holds a clean 4ft southerly, 11-second period, light offshore winds again, with energy at 507 (moderate to strong). Glassy conditions in the afternoon.

Wednesday the 30th sees a 6ft south swell with a 17-second period. It’s clean but there’s a bit of a cross-shore breeze, so it’s not perfect—still, the energy is 2098 (very strong), and the sets will have some serious push.

Best on offer? Monday September 21st without a doubt. Clean, powerful, and offshore. A close second is Monday the 28th for the bigger, clean swell.

Keep your eye on that 21st—it's the one.

Rusty.

Read more