Clovelly Bombie Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Clovelly Bombie.

Right off the bat, you’re looking at a pretty grim run of small, weak swell with poor conditions. The first couple of weeks are a bit of a write-off for any decent paddle session. The combined swell energy is low, barely scratching into the double digits some days. We’ve got a stretch from Wednesday the 19th through to the end of the month where the call is “poor surf conditions” almost every day. The wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, and the swell is tiny—mostly under 3ft with short periods. That’s not going to get anyone excited.

The water temperature is sitting at 62°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent wetsuit.

There’s a glimmer of hope on Tuesday the 25th afternoon. The wind drops to glassy, calm conditions, and we get a small 3ft swell from the ENE with an 8-second period. The combined energy is 126—moderate—and the report calls it “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s not a standout, but if you’re desperate for a paddle, that glassy window is your best bet. It’s a reef break for advanced surfers, and it’s inconsistent, so don’t expect a pumping session.

Now, the real story is in the first few days of September. From Monday the 31st of August afternoon through to Wednesday the 2nd of September, the swell cranks up. We’re talking a solid 10ft to 13ft groundswell from the SSE with a very long 12 to 13-second period. The combined wave energy is massive—over 5000 on the 31st afternoon. That’s serious power. The wind is cross-on or onshore though, which will mess up the face. The report calls it “poor surf conditions” for the 31st and 1st, but by Wednesday the 2nd afternoon, it’s a “marginal forecast” with a score of 2. The swell is still 10ft from the SSE, but the period is still 12 seconds, and the wind is a gentle cross-on. For a big, powerful reef break like Clovelly Bombie, this is the window to watch. It’s a big, heavy wave for experts only—over 8ft and it’s only for the very experienced. The long period means it will be a proper groundswell, with long lulls between sets, which can make it a bit easier to get out, but it’s still a beast. The direction (SSE) is not the optimum (ENE), but the sheer size and energy make it the standout. Expect crowds to be possible.

If you’re a kite surfer, the big wind and swell combo on the 26th of August might be more your thing than mine.

Rusty.

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