Carola Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's look at what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks. I'll be straight with you – the charts aren't pretty. We've got a proper flat spell setting in, so don't get your hopes up for anything exciting.

Right through to the end of the month, it’s a total bust. We're looking at a long, empty gap of more than 10 days with barely a ripple. There is simply no surf on offer. The water is sitting at a balmy 78°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year – that's the only thing that's got any heat to it.

When the swells do try to show up late in the piece, it's all just tiny, weak lines with no energy to speak of. The only spot on the radar is Carola, a reef break for advanced surfers. It's fairly consistent when there's swell, and it's exposed to the north, which is its optimum direction. But honestly, it doesn't matter. From the 16th of August right through to the 31st, every single session is marked as poor surf conditions. The combined energy is basically zero, or single digits – we're talking about 0 to 17 (moderate wave energy at very best). The swells are tiny, mostly 0.7ft from the north with periods around 8 to 9 seconds. The wind is mostly a clean cross-offshore, but there's just nothing to ride.

There is one odd little blip on the 24th of August, Monday morning, where a very long period groundswell from the northwest at 15 seconds rolls in, but it's only 0.3ft. The combined energy is just 8 (weak wave energy), so it's barely a bump in the water. That kind of period at a reef could offer a glimpse of a clean little wave, but there's no size to back it up. The rest of the time, it's a cross-shore wind mess or just flat and clean. Honestly, for the size of the swell we're talking, and with the poor quality, if there were any waves, the beach setup would be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, but there isn't even that.

So, there's no best on offer, no standout. It's a blank run, and for this area, that's just the way it goes sometimes. Forecasts can change, but for now, keep the board in the bag.

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