Bronte Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the next couple of weeks at Bronte Beach are looking pretty grim for anyone wanting a proper paddle. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak, and messy surf ahead. The first real glimmer of anything rideable doesn't show up until Sunday the 23rd, and even then, it’s ordinary at best.

We start off with a few days of tiny, short-period windswell. Thursday afternoon the 20th has a bit of energy, but it’s onshore, choppy, and pretty much a write-off. Friday and Saturday are smaller still, with clean but gutless waves. The water temp is sitting at 62°F, which is about 2°F colder than normal for this time of year – you’ll want the hood and booties.

The first faint pulse arrives Sunday morning the 23rd. We get a modest jump in energy, but the swell direction is from the south and the period is only 10 seconds. The waves are surfable, but the conditions are ordinary – not worth getting too excited about. The wind is light off-shore, so it’s clean, but the size is still around 3ft. This pattern of small, poor surf continues through Monday and Tuesday, with the swell energy staying low and the wind chopping it up.

Now, here’s where things get interesting. On Wednesday the 26th, a bigger pulse of south swell arrives. The energy jumps to a strong level, and we're looking at surf around 8ft on the morning push, easing to 7ft by the afternoon. This is proper size for Bronte, and with the wind swinging offshore from the WSW, it’s going to be clean. But listen – this is a beach and reef setup, and at this size, it’s strictly for experts. The period is only 8 seconds, so it’s going to be a bit lumpy and power-surgey. It’s the standout of the whole period, but it’s not for the faint-hearted.

Thursday the 27th drops back quickly, with the swell down to around 3ft and the energy halved. The wind is still okay, but the size fades fast. We get a bit of a rebound on Saturday the 29th – a 6ft NE swell with fresh offshore wind, but the period is a short 6 seconds, so it’ll be crumbly and weak. Sunday the 30th kicks up some wind, but the swell direction is all over the place, and it stays messy.

Going into the second week, the excitement dies right off. Monday the 31st has some long period south swell, but the wind is cross-shore and it’s all chop. The first of September brings a glassy morning with a bit of ENE swell, but it’s only about 3ft and the period is short – just ordinary. The rest of the week is a mix of tiny waves, onshore breezes, and low energy. Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th have some fresh offshore winds, but the swell is barely a ripple.

So, there you have it. The only real window of opportunity is Wednesday the 26th – big, clean, but very heavy. If you’re not an expert, give it a miss, because it’s going to be a washing machine on the beach breaks. The long-range stuff into the second week is promising in theory, but the models are all over the place and the energy just isn't there. Keep the board in the car, but maybe take the dog for a walk instead.

Rusty.

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