Cathedral Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The next few days are looking pretty good for us here, and there’s some real magic on the horizon if you pick your moments right. Cathedral Rock (Phillip Island) is the main game in town for the whole outlook. The water temp is sitting at about 57°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year, no surprises there.

We kick things off on Tuesday, August 25th. The morning is a beauty – a 7ft SW groundswell, with a long 13-second period, and glassy conditions with only a whisper of wind from the NW at 3 mph. It’s clean, powerful, and the combined energy is strong (1705). This is set for experienced surfers, but it’s a real standout start. The afternoon holds similar juice, 7ft from the SW, still glassy, with a very solid combined energy of 1714.

Wednesday the 26th gets a bit messy. The swell pushes up to 8ft SW, but a cross-on wind from the SW at 9 mph makes things choppy. The energy jumps massively (3532), but the quality is off. Not the best call.

Thursday the 27th drops right down. A smaller 3ft W/SW swell rolls in with a cross-off wind, so it’s super clean and manageable for everyone. Energy is low (587), but it’s fun for a longboard.

Friday the 28th sees a lot of energy (2449 combined average) with a long period 18-second groundswell from the W/SW. But it’s 5ft with a messy cross-on wind. Then a bigger 8ft shows up in the afternoon but gets hammered by onshore winds. Not a day for the peak.

Now here’s our first real big highlight. Saturday, August 30th, early morning is an absolute gem. A 7ft SW groundswell, period of 13 seconds, and absolutely dead calm – 0 mph wind, glassy as a mirror. Combined energy is a strong 1967. This is a serious window of pure, clean swell. Late Sunday afternoon on the 30th, the swell pumps up to 10ft with a 19-second period. The combined energy soars into the thousands (7080). That’s a very long, powerful groundswell, but wind turns onshore. This one is for experts only, and the point break here loves that long period. Surf is intense.

Monday, August 31st is another standout. Morning brings a 10ft SW groundswell, 16-second period, with clean offshore cross-off winds from the NW. Combined energy is a huge 4257. The afternoon is just as good with 8ft and clean conditions. This is the best quality, biggest, cleanest swell in the first week. If you can handle big waves, this is your day.

September starts off sloppy. Tuesday the 1st gets messy with rain showers and a strong cross-shore wind. Energy drops. Not one to chase.

Wednesday, September 2nd has a good window in the afternoon. It picks up a 8ft SW swell with a cross-off wind from the ENE, and the combined energy is 2120. Clean and powerful for the experienced crew.

Thursday, September 3rd morning has a decent 8ft SSW groundswell with cross-off winds, energy at 2485. It’s clean but the cross-off is fine here.

Then we get to the big one in the second week. Saturday, September 5th is a bomb. Morning has a 10ft SW swell, 17-second period, with solid offshore winds from the NNW at 12 mph. Combined energy is massive at 4749. Afternoon keeps the 8ft with the same offshore wind. This is the standout of the whole run – big, clean, offshore, and pumping.

Sunday the 6th gets choppy again. Not for us.

Monday, September 7th delivers again. A clean 7ft WSW swell in the morning with offshore winds from the north, and the afternoon pushes to 12ft WSW. The energy hits 3579. Clean offshore again. Great session for the big-wave hunters.

Tuesday, September 8th it gets too big for comfort. 16ft of SW with fresh cross-onshore winds, combined energy is astronomical (16317). That’s a monster. Not paddling that.

Wednesday, September 9th sees 20ft! Combined energy is 20581. The file says it’s too big for the break. It’s a write-off for paddle surfing – more of a big wave tow or kite day, if anything.

Rusty.

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