Burleigh Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright crew, Rusty here, breakin' down the Burleigh Heads forecast for the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but we’ve got a couple of moments that are gonna make it worth paddling out.

First up, the overall pattern. We’re lookin’ at a lot of small, choppy days with cross-shore and cross-onshore winds messin’ up what little swell there is. The water temp is sittin’ at 69°F, which is about 0.9°F cooler than normal for this time of year, so pretty average for Burleigh.

The openin’ stretch is a write-off. From Sunday the 23rd right through to Friday the 28th, it’s mostly poor surf conditions with tiny swell and messy winds. The wave energy is weak, with values mostly under 200 (like 112 on Sunday mornin’), so you’re not missin’ much.

Saturday the 29th sees a bit of a clean-up. The wind swings south-southeast, givin’ us a cross-off breeze, and the swell hangs around 2ft to 3ft from the SSE. The wave energy ticks up to 245 on the mornin’ session, but it’s still not enough to get the heart racin’. A surfable wave, but you’re not gonna be callin’ in sick for it.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Sunday the 30th of August is the standout. The mornin’ is lookin’ glassy – dead flat winds from the east at just 3 mph – and the swell bumps up to 5ft from the SSE. The wave energy is solid at 385 (moderate), and with that glassy surface, Burleigh Heads is gonna be clean. This is the best on offer in the whole forecast. Get on it early.

Then on Monday the 31st of August, the swell gets a real punch. We’re lookin’ at 6ft from the SSE, with a period of 9 seconds. The energy jumps right up to 1069 (strong), and the wind is a light cross-off from the south-southeast, keepin’ it clean. This is gonna be a proper session for the experienced crew. That 6ft is pushin’ into the size where it’s not for the groms; it’s for the guys who know the bank. The only downside is the afternoon goes a bit onshore and messy, so make it a mornin’ mission.

After that, things drop off again. The first week of September is a long stretch of nothin’ – small swell, weak energy (values under 300), and mainly cross-on or onshore winds. It’s a gap that runs from Tuesday the 1st through to the end of the outlook on Monday the 7th. There’s a brief moment on Wednesday the 2nd of September where it goes glassy, but the swell is only 2ft with 183 energy – just a tiny, ordinary wave.

So, to wrap it up: the best window is Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st of August. Sunday is the pick for the clean, glassy conditions and fun-sized swell. Monday has more power but is only for the advanced lot. The rest is a waitin’ game.

Rusty.

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