Clifton Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your wettie and let’s talk about the next couple of weeks down at Clifton Beach. It’s going to be a real mixed bag, with a lot of time spent staring at a pretty flat ocean. We’ve got a run of small, clean days, but for the most part, it’s about making the most of whatever dribbles in. The water is sitting at 52°F which is spot on for this time of year, nothing weird there to worry about.

The window kicks off on Thursday the 6th, but honestly, you might as well leave the board in the car. We’ve got a weak 1ft of swell at 18 seconds but there’s just no energy behind it – we’re looking at a combined energy of only 82, which is rock bottom. It’s just a poor surf day with a southerly breeze chopping it up a touch.

Friday the 7th brightens up a bit. The swell puts on a little size to 2ft, and the period is a long 16 seconds. The morning stays clean with a cross-off breeze, and by the afternoon it goes absolutely glassy with no wind at all. It’s still pretty minimal, but for a small wave log, it might be the most fun you’ll have. The energy is up to 247, which is moderate, so the ocean has a little bit of push.

Saturday the 8th is a similar story. Another 2ft of SSW swell but the period drops a bit. The morning has a gentle offshore wind, keeping things clean. It’s not going to blow your mind, but it's rideable. Then Sunday the 9th, the swell fades right back to a pathetic 0.5ft. The energy collapses to 47 and even though it's glassy on the afternoon, there's just nothing to surf. This is a weekend for other plans.

The middle of next week gets a bit more interesting, though. On Monday the 10th, the swell bumps up to 3ft with the energy jumping to 345. The morning has some light cross-shore wind and a bit of rain, which could be okay, but the afternoon turns ugly. A strong WSW wind kicks in at 25 mph, blowing the swell up into a messy 5ft onshore slop. That afternoon is one to skip; that wave energy is pumping at 1336 but it’s all for nothing with that wind.

After that stormy blip, things settle down again. Tuesday the 11th and Wednesday the 12th are clean and small. Tuesday has 2ft surf with clean offshore winds, and Wednesday bumps up to 3ft with the energy reaching 625 by the arvo. The morning of Wednesday the 12th looks like the pick of this run – moderate offshore wind and a bit more push. It’s still small, but at least it’s got a bit of form.

Then we get another period of struggle from Thursday the 13th right through to Saturday the 15th. The wind swings onshore and the surf quality drops right off. The swell does build a little, hitting 6ft on Friday the 14th arvo, but it’s a messy cross-onshore chop. With that kind of size and wind, it’s more of a kite-surfing day than a paddling one. The energy on that Friday afternoon is a massive 1672, but it’s completely unsurfable.

We get one last glimmer of hope on Sunday the 16th. The morning looks pretty good, actually. The swell is back down to a manageable 2ft, but the winds are light and cross-offshore. The forecast actually says “expect good surf conditions,” and it’s got a combined energy of 270. For this stretch, that’s a standout. If you can get out early, you might find a few clean little peaks.

After that, the final days of the window, from Monday the 17th through to Friday the 21st, are back to the grind. It’s all tiny – 1ft – with weak energy readings in the 80s and 90s. The winds are mostly offshore or glassy, so it’ll look pretty, but there just won’t be any real waves to ride. You’d be surfing ankle-biters.

So, honestly, the pick of the whole 16-day stretch is that Sunday the 16th morning. It’s the only time where the conditions and the swell finally line up to give you something clean and rideable. It’s not a big day by any stretch, but it’s clean, and with that SSW swell at 2ft, it’s your best bet. Keep your expectations low and your eyes on the tide charts.

Rusty.

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