Carola Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this outlook is a tough one. We’re looking at the next 16 days and, honestly, the surf situation is pretty bleak. There’s a big gap coming up because there’s just nothing worth paddling out for.

The first sign of any swell shows up on Tuesday, 11th August, but it’s a real letdown. At Carola, a reef set-up for advanced surfers, we’re looking at a tiny 2 ft of swell from the north. The energy is weak, sitting at just 36, and with a short period of 8 seconds, these waves are going to be fat and gutless. The wind is a cross-offshore from the SSE, so it’s clean, but with these tiny waves, it’s a whole lot of nothing. The water is a very warm 78°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only interesting thing here.

From the afternoon of the 11th right through to the morning of the 13th, the swell drops to zero. It’s flat. Then on the 13th, we get a sniff of 1.0 ft from the north, but with energy levels around 12, it’s barely a ripple. The same story continues day after day – tiny 0.7 ft to 1.0 ft swells, all with weak energy (mostly under 20), and short periods. The wind stays cross-offshore, which is clean, but you can’t surf what isn’t there.

There’s a slight uptick in energy on the 18th, with 1.0 ft from the north and a period of 9 seconds, giving us 17 in energy. That’s the highest we see all forecast, but it’s still a long way from being rideable for anyone but a longboarder on a mill pond. The rest of the period is a mix of tiny 0.3 ft and 0.7 ft waves, with the occasional completely flat session. The 22nd and 23rd afternoons get a bit of cross-shore chop, which is messy but doesn’t matter because the surf is non-existent.

Look, I can’t pick a standout because there isn’t one. The best option, if you’re desperate, would be the morning of the 18th when the energy is at its highest, but you’re still looking at 1.0 ft waves. It’s not a surfable option for most. With the combined energy so low (all two-digit numbers under 100), it’s weak wave energy all the way. This is a classic blank run for the area – sometimes the ocean just goes to sleep. Keep your gear ready; forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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