Clifton Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here with a look at what’s comin’ up for Clifton Beach. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there are a couple windows that’ll get your blood pumping if you know where to look. The water temp’s sittin’ at about 54°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year – nothin’ wild.

Right out the gate, Friday the 11th is a solid start, but only for the experienced crew. We got a clean 6ft SSW groundswell with a 17-second period, and a combined energy of 1949 – that’s got some juice, mate. The wind’s light and cross-off from the NW, keepin’ things tidy. But look, this swell’s got some grunt, so it’s not for the groms. The afternoon though, forget it – 12ft of SW swell is just too much for this spot, all messy and blown out. Stick to the mornin’ session if you’ve got the skills.

Now, Saturday the 12th morning is where it’s at. Glassy conditions with a NNE breeze, and 4ft of S groundswell at a long 16 seconds. The combined energy’s a moderate 912, so there’s plenty of push but not too much. This is a beauty – clean lines, easy paddle outs, and the crowds are only occasional. If you can get out there, it’s the pick of the early days.

From Saturday afternoon right through to the end of the following week, it gets pretty ordinary. Sunday the 13th has small 3ft swell with offshore wind, but it’s just not enough to get excited about. Then from Monday the 14th, we hit a dry patch – days of tiny, weak surf with energy readings barely over 40, or blown out by strong winds. There’s a big 12ft spike on Wednesday the 16th, but it’s cross-onshore and messy – more of a kite session than a paddle. That whole first week and a half is a write-off for quality waves.

Things start lookin’ up again on Monday the 21st. That morning, we got 6ft of SSW groundswell with a 19-second period – that’s a long, powerful groundswell. Combined energy’s a strong 2313, and the wind is gentle offshore from the N, makin’ for super clean conditions. This one’s for experienced surfers again, as it’s well over 5ft. The afternoon glass off with 4ft and a light S breeze is also a ripper, but the morning is the standout. That’s the second real highlight in the run.

After that, Tuesday the 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd offer some smaller but clean options – 3ft offshore on Wednesday with a 17-second period gives you some fun little lines. After that, it fades out again with poor conditions through to the end of the forecast.

So, if you’re plannin’ around it: the glassy Saturday the 12th morning is your best bet for a fun, user-friendly wave. For the experienced crew, the Monday the 21st morning delivers proper groundswell and offshore wind – that’s the real gem. Don’t waste your time on the days in between, it’s either too small, too big, or too messy. Keep an eye on those long-range calls though – they’re lookin’ promising but we all know how that goes.

Rusty.

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