Clifton Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Clifton Beach has cookin’ over the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, the first week is pretty average. We've got a pulse of long-period groundswell right from Sunday the 2nd – a solid 4ft south swell with a 17-second period. That’s proper long lines. The combined energy is a moderate 675, and with clean, offshore northerly winds on Sunday morning, the surface will be glassy. The water’s sitting at 53°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year. That Sunday morning is the standout for the early period, offering clean, well-shaped waves from that long, powerful south swell. The 4ft size is friendly for most, but the long period means it could be a bit roly-poly and could close out the beach. Still, the setup is good.

Sunday afternoon stays clean with a smaller 3ft swell, and Monday drops right off into tiny, ordinary surf. We then hit a proper lull from Tuesday the 4th through to Thursday the 6th, with wave heights barely scraping 1ft and energy levels tanking below 100 (a weak 38 to 99). Not worth a paddle.

Things perk up a little on Friday the 7th morning – a clean 2ft south swell with a 19-second period, energy at 326. It’s clean and light, but it’s not going to blow your mind. Saturday the 8th afternoon is a repeat of that clean 2ft energy. Through the second week, nothing really screams “go now” until the 13th, which is a tricky one with marginal conditions and a bump in size.

The real standout is Friday the 14th. We’ve got a 5ft SSW swell with a 17-second period and very strong combined energy at 2124. The wind is cross-offshore and light, with morning conditions looking clean. This is the pick of the entire outlook – excellent, clean waves with plenty of punch and that long-period quality. The swell direction is matching the optimum, and for an experienced surfer, this is the one to aim for. The size is at the upper limit for beginners though.

Beyond that, the 15th holds a moderate 3ft swell with decent energy (673) but the wind picks up, so it’s not as clean. Then we get blown out from the 16th with near-gale winds making a mess of things. For the rest of the window, it’s small, wind-affected, and not really worth chasing.

So, for the best on offer: snag the clean Sunday the 2nd morning for some long, clean lines, but the absolute peak is the Friday the 14th morning – that’s the one with the size, energy, and clean conditions.

- Rusty

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