Broken Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let me tell you how it is for Broken Head – we’re looking at a long, lean spell before anything proper shows up. For the next week or so, it’s mostly small, weak and messy, with a real gap in quality between now and mid-month. Water temp is sitting about average for this time of year at 69°, nothing unusual.

The first few days are a waste. Sunday the 9th is a no-go with a tiny 3ft easterly swell and a cross-on northeasterly breeze making for choppy, poor conditions (182 combined energy). Monday the 10th jumps to 6ft from the north, but it’s short-period junk with fresh cross-onshore wind – lumpy and not worth paddling out for. Tuesday and Wednesday the 11th-12th drop right off: 2-2ft waves, a few clean windows but not enough to get excited about. Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th are flat and weak, 1-2ft with barely any energy (as low as 32 combined). A few offshore mornings but there’s simply no swell.

We finally see a pulse around Saturday the 15th: a 6ft short-period swell from the SSE, with a clean offshore SSW wind. The rating’s okay for the morning (438 combined energy), but the afternoon swings cross-off and goes ordinary. Sunday the 16th is small again. Monday the 17th brings back a 6ft ESE swell with a light southerly cross-off wind and clean conditions (326 combined energy) – surfable but nothing special. Tuesday the 18th offers similar 6-6ft from the ESE, but the afternoon gets a cross-shore chop that spoils it.

Now here’s where it gets interesting. If you can wait, the standout window kicks off on Thursday the 21st of August. That morning sees a 5ft SE swell with a gentle offshore SSW wind, clean and building. The afternoon is genuinely good: 6ft from the SE, gentle cross-off breeze, and strong wave energy of 494 – expect clean lines at this point break. This is the first real recommendation.

But the absolute gem lands Saturday the 22nd of August. That morning is the best on offer: 8ft of long-period groundswell (10 seconds) from the ESE, with a glassy offshore breeze – barely a breath of wind at 3 mph from the SW. Combined energy is a massive 1463, meaning powerful, well-shaped waves. The water’s clean, the wind’s offshore. This is excellent, hollow surf for experienced surfers only – at that size, beginners should stay well clear. It will be heavy and demanding, but for the crew who know what they’re doing, this is a day to circle. Crowds are likely though – it’s a popular point.

Sunday the 23rd drops back a bit with 7ft and a cross-off wind from the west-northwest, still surfable but not as clean. Then Monday the 24th offers another solid option: 6ft from the east with an 11-second period, offshore wind all day, and very good energy (720 combined). That’s a long-period groundswell that should wrap nicely into the point, with clean conditions and plenty of push.

Bottom line: there’s a lot of average to poor surf in the first week. Don’t bother until around the 21st, and if you can hold out for the 22nd, that’s your session. Long-range stuff looks promising but we’ll keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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