Bronte Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve been watching Bronte Beach – it’s a beach and reef set-up, exposed to the swell but inconsistent. For the next week and a half, we’re looking at a pretty flat and ordinary stretch. There’s not much to get excited about until the very end of the run, so you’ve got a massive gap of quiet days before things finally wake up.

Water temp’s sitting at 62°, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year – about 2° below average, so you’ll feel that nip if you’re paddling out.

We start off Tuesday 18th August with nothing – cloudy, onshore ENE wind at 9 mph, and only 3 ft of weak, short-period ESE swell (144 energy). Poor surf. Wednesday 19th morning shows a glimmer: 2 ft from the ESE at 10 seconds, with a light NW cross-off wind and clean conditions (170 energy). It’s surfable but very ordinary. Then the wind swings NE and picks up, trashing the afternoon.

Thursday 20th through to Wednesday 26th are all flat or tiny – barely 1 ft to 2 ft, with onshore or cross winds and weak energy levels (16 to 125). A few mornings have clean faces, but the wave height is pathetic. The standout on Friday 21st morning has 3 ft ENE swell and WNW cross-off winds, but it’s still tiny (54 energy). Not worth a paddle.

Sunday 23rd morning is glassy with a super long 18-second period from the SSE, but the swell is only 0.7 ft – that’s flat, mate. Occasionally it’s clean, but there’s nothing to ride.

Then we hit the second week. Monday 31st August morning, the swell finally shows up: 7 ft from the south at 10 seconds, with WNW offshore wind at 19 mph (804 energy). That’s moderate energy and clean, but that size and period will be a handful for anyone but the experienced. The afternoon gets even better – 8 ft south swell, same period, lighter WNW wind, and the combined energy jumps to 2348. That’s strong, punchy swell, and the glassy offshore wind will have it peeling clean. This is the absolute best on offer, and it’s for experienced surfers only – beginners, stay on the sand.

Tuesday 1st September morning holds 10 ft south swell, WSW cross-off wind (1740 energy), still clean but big. The afternoon goes cross-on with SE wind and gets messy. Wednesday 2nd has 6 ft to 7 ft SE/SSE swell with light cross-on winds, energy still high (1211-1355), but the wind direction isn’t perfect and it’s a bit lumpy.

Overall, the real window is Monday 31st August afternoon – that’s the standout: 8 ft south swell, clean offshore wind, plenty of energy. Get on it if you’re keen and skilled. The rest of the period is mostly a write-off with small, weak surf. Keep an eye on the forecast – things can change.

Rusty.

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