Burleigh Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, straight up, the next couple of weeks at Burleigh Heads are a bit of a mixed bag. There’s nothing massive on the cards, but we do get a couple of windows where it cleans right up. Don’t get too excited about the first few days, though.

We kick off on Tuesday the 11th with tiny swell, around 2ft from the East with a 9-second period. The energy’s pretty weak, only 76 (combined). The morning’s a write-off with a cross-offshore breeze, but by Tuesday afternoon the wind switches to a glassy East at just 3 mph. That’s a real treat – clean as a whistle, but the waves are still just ordinary little things. Wednesday morning the 12th looks similar with glassy conditions again (wind from the WNW at 3 mph) and the swell energy bumping up to 112, but it’s still just 2ft. Fun for a longboard, maybe.

Thursday morning the 13th stays clean with a light cross-off breeze and 2ft swell. The real change comes Friday the 14th. The morning brings a jump in size to 5ft from the South, 8-second period, and the energy hits 322. The wind is cross-off from the South at 9 mph, so it’s going to be clean. This is the first time it gets a bit more serious, but it’s still manageable for most surfers. Friday afternoon, though, the wind picks up to 16 mph from the Southeast and it gets choppy and poor.

Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th both have clean conditions thanks to a solid cross-off wind from the South, but the swell direction goes all wrong for Burleigh – it’s from the SSE with a short, weak 6-second period. The energy is moderate, between 204 and 356, but the waves won’t have any shape. It’s a no-go for a decent wave.

Monday the 17th is poor with strong onshore winds and rain. Tuesday the 18th sees the swell trying to build again – 7ft from the SE by the afternoon, with energy up to 707 – but the cross-shore wind makes for a lumpy, choppy mess.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th mornings are both clean with cross-off winds, and the swell hangs around 7ft to 8ft from the SE and ESE. The energy is strong, peaking at 1246 on Thursday morning. This is proper groundswell territory, but it’s solid. For an advanced spot like Burleigh, this is where the experts will be licking their lips. Watch out, because the wind is clean and the waves will have some punch. This is easily the stand-out period for anyone who knows what they’re doing. Thursday the 20th morning is the pick of the bunch.

After that, Friday the 21st stays clean with 6ft from the East, 10-second period, which is solid, but by Saturday the 22nd the wind comes up nasty from the SE at 19 mph again. Sunday the 23rd is messy with cross-shore wind.

Then, just when you think it’s all over, look at Tuesday the 25th. The morning is an absolute gem – glassy calm, zero wind, and 3ft from the East with a 10-second period. The energy is 297, and the forecast says “expect good surf conditions”. It’s a quiet, clean morning with fun-sized waves. That’s your other standout, and it’s a real sleeper for the longboarders and mid-length crews. Wednesday the 26th morning also has glassy conditions but the swell drops back to 2ft.

So, overall: don’t waste your time on the first week unless you’re desperate for a paddle. The real action is Thursday the 20th morning for the advanced crew, and Tuesday the 25th morning for everyone wanting a clean, easy sesh. Keep an eye on the wind, because when it’s on, Burleigh can turn it on.

Rusty.

Read more