Noosa - Boiling Pot Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at the local picture for the Noosa area over the next couple of weeks.

To be straight up with you, this is a tough run ahead. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor surf conditions for the most part, with no real standout days that make me want to rush out the door. The waves are going to be small to modest in size, but the wind and swell quality just ain't doing us any favours. It's gonna be a bit of a grind for a decent wave.

Looking at the whole period, the first week is particularly rough. From Thursday, September 10th right through to the end of that week, we have consistent cross-offshore winds from the southeast blowing at 9 to 22 mph. This onshore wind is turning what little swell we have into messy, choppy surf. The wave energy is mostly weak to moderate, with the 2-digit energy values in the 50-90 range.

The swell direction is coming out of the ESE to SE, but it’s short-period stuff, mostly around 6-8 seconds, so there’s not much push or shape in the water. You'll see heights around 3 ft to 3 ft, occasionally bumping up to 5 ft, but the wind will ruin it. Water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no major surprises there. For the advanced crew at the Noosa - Boiling Pot, the wind is cross-off from the southeast, which is not ideal. The optimum for that point is ENE, so the direction is poor. It's going to be a frustrating paddle out.

There’s a glimmer of hope about a week out, on Thursday, September 17th. Thursday morning we see a bump in swell to 5 ft from the ESE, with a still moderate southeast wind. The energy jumps up to a moderate 226, which is a bit of life, but the conditions are still marginal, with the wind keeping things a bit bumpy. Still not a top pick, but maybe the best of a bad bunch if you’re desperate.

The following Monday, September 21st, through to Wednesday the 23rd, is a write-off. The swell drops right back to under 3 ft with cross-on or onshore winds. The energy is weak. Skip those days.

Things get a bit bigger but not better at the very end of the period. On Wednesday the 24th of September, we see a bigger push of swell, hitting 7 ft on the Thursday morning, but the wind shifts and stays cross-on from the NE. The swell direction goes to the SE with a short period, and the energy is moderate to strong (331-949). But with that wind, it's going to be a lumpy, messy, and real tough paddle. By Friday the 25th, we've got an 8 ft swell from the SE, but it's directly onshore from the north. This isn't really paddle-surfing territory; it looks more interesting for the kite surfers if they're game. For the rest of us, it's a pass.

Honestly, there's no true standout in this forecast. The overall quality is poor right across the 16-day window. For a famously inconsistent spot like the Boiling Pot, a blank stretch like this is just part of living here. The forecasts can change, but as it stands, I’d save your energy.

Rusty, signing off.

Read more