Cobden Beach - The Channel Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, cobber, Rusty here. We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag on the way for Cobden Beach – The Channel. The forecast starts off with some solid size, but conditions are messy at first. Then we get a nice window of clean, smaller surf, followed by a real standout period around the middle of the month that’s got me pretty excited. The water temp is sitting at 54°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We kick off Sunday morning, August 9th, with a 7ft swell from the NNW, but it’s coming with a light cross breeze and rain. The combined energy is strong at 1019, but honestly, that’s a bit too much punch for this break – it’s predicted to be too big for the setup. Sunday afternoon gets worse with onshore WNW winds at 16 mph and 8ft swell, so that’s a write-off.

Monday the 10th, we get a nice change. Morning brings a glassy 3ft W swell with a very long 15-second period, and only 3 mph SSW wind. The energy is a moderate 808, and conditions are looking excellent. That’s your early-week highlight – clean, lined-up waves for the experienced crew. The afternoon stays clean but the wind turns light onshore, so it’s more marginal.

Tuesday the 11th offers a small but clean 3ft WSW swell in the morning with a light cross-off breeze, period at 13 seconds (moderate energy at 291). It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about. The afternoon is glassy but tiny at 2ft, though that 18-second period is very long – better suited for a point or reef, but at this size, it’s a fun log session.

Wednesday the 12th has a 5ft N swell in the morning with clean conditions, but the period is short at 8 seconds and energy is moderate (452). It’ll be a bit weak and crumbly. The afternoon bumps up to 8ft from the NNW, which is too big for this break again.

Now, here’s where it gets good. Saturday the 15th of August is the standout. The morning is glassy with a 5ft W swell, a very long 16-second period, and clean as a whistle. The combined energy is strong at 1937. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – long, powerful lines with no wind. The afternoon holds with a light offshore breeze and 5ft W swell, energy still strong at 1817. This is the one to circle on the calendar.

Sunday the 16th morning has a 8ft WSW swell – that’s big, only for the experts. Clean with a cross-off breeze, but the energy is very strong at 2546. Too much for most. The afternoon drops to 5ft but with a cross-onshore wind, so it gets a bit bumpy.

From Monday the 17th onward, we’re into a long run of smaller, cleaner conditions. Monday morning has a 3ft W swell, 15-second period, light offshore wind – clean and fun for the longboard or mid-length. Energy is moderate at 743. Tuesday through Thursday of that week (18th to 20th) stays in the 2ft to 4ft range, with WSW swells and periods between 9 and 17 seconds. Winds are mostly light cross-off or glassy in the afternoons. The energy dips into the 300-700 range, so it’s weak to moderate. Fun for a cruise, but nothing pumping.

Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd are similar – small, clean mornings with 4ft to 3ft WSW swell, long periods, and light winds. Sunday the 23rd drops right off – only 2ft and ordinary conditions, energy down to 177.

By Monday the 24th, the period drops to a short 6 seconds, and the swell is a weak 3ft from the W. Energy is just 182. That’s pretty ordinary, and the afternoon has a cross-on breeze. Not worth the paddle.

So, bottom line: Saturday the 15th is your clear winner – glassy, solid 5-5ft W groundswell with that long period. Get out there early. The other real highlight is Monday the 10th morning for clean, glassy waves with that long-period W swell. After that, it’s a lot of small, clean days that are good for a paddle but nothing epic. The first few days are too big or windy, and the last week tails off into weak, short-period slop.

Rusty.

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