City Beach groyne Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get into it. This is City Beach groyne we're talking about, and I gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag, with some real ups and downs. We’ve got a solid stretch of swell on the way, but the wind and the size are going to be the main characters in this story.

Right now, the water temp is sitting right around average for this time of year, so nothing wild there. We're looking at a long period, 16-second groundswell from the WSW, which is the sweet spot for this groyne. That means the waves will have plenty of energy and shape, but with that long period, expect longer lulls between sets – it'll make paddling out a bit easier, but you'll be waiting for the bombs.

The real kicker is the size. For the first few days, we’re looking at 8ft to 10ft, which is well into the “too big for beginners” territory. The wave energy is strong (combined energy hitting 2895 to 3951), so this isn't just slop. But the wind is a problem. Wednesday morning has a slight cross-shore from the north, but the afternoon goes onshore from the west, making it messy. Thursday and Friday look even worse with onshore and cross-onshore winds, tossing up a choppy surface. The best bet this week is actually Monday the 10th of August. The morning is clean with a cross-offshore breeze from the SSE, and the swell is a solid 10ft from the SW. It’s a Tuesday, so crowds should be manageable, but it's still a fairly exposed spot. The afternoon is promising too, with a 12ft SW swell, but the wind kicks up a cross-shore chop, making it less appealing.

The weekend of the 8th and 9th is a write-off. Forget it. We’re talking 13ft of stormy, onshore junk with a strong breeze. The combined energy is over 6000, which is enormous, but it’s just a washing machine. Wind speeds are hitting 25 mph from the SW. That’s kite-surfing territory, not paddle-surfing. Don't even bother.

The real standout, and I mean the one to circle on your calendar, is Friday the 14th of August. After a week of wind and chaos, we get a window of pure magic. The afternoon is glassy. Flat calm. No wind at all. The swell is 7ft from the WSW, still a long 15-second period, and the combined energy is at a manageable 2116. This is the day for experienced surfers. It’s the most perfect, clean setup you could ask for at this break. The conditions are described as excellent, and that’s not a term I throw around lightly. It’s a Friday, so you might have some company, but it’ll be worth it.

After that, the swell starts to drop a bit, but we get another window around the 17th and 19th. The 19th of August, a Wednesday morning, looks excellent again. A clean, cross-offshore breeze from the SSE with a 8ft swell. That’s another solid day. But don't get too excited about the 20th, as the swell drops right off to 6ft.

So, in a nutshell: the first week is a battle with the wind, save for Monday the 10th. The weekend is a total washout. But the second week holds the true prize: Friday the 14th of August, followed by Wednesday the 19th. The 14th is the absolute best on offer, with glassy, clean conditions and a solid, powerful swell. Get on it.

Rusty.

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