Compton Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve been staring at the charts for Compton Bay and the news isn’t great. We’ve got a full 16-day window ahead, but honestly, there’s barely a ripple worth paddling for. The first proper surf I can see is a long way off, and even then, it’s nothing to write home about.

For the first eight days, from Thursday the 30th of July right through to Friday the 7th of August, it’s a total write-off. Swell heights are tiny, mostly under 3 ft, and the wind is either onshore, strong, or just wrong. You’ll be fighting a fresh breeze from the SW at 19 mph on Thursday afternoon, and the water is a staggering 70°F—that’s 8°F warmer than normal, which is very unusual for this time of year. The combined swell energy is a paltry 13 (weak). There’s simply nothing to ride.

We finally get a glimmer on Saturday morning, the 8th of August. The swell bumps up to 4 ft from the SW, and the wind goes glassy—dead calm, just a slight air. That’s a major positive for clean conditions. The combined energy hits 85 (still weak), and the period is 6 seconds, so it’s a short, weak wind swell. It’s surfable, but only just. The afternoon sees the wind swing back onshore from the SW at 12 mph, and the swell jumps to 5 ft with a period of just 5 seconds, energy at 102 (moderate). That’s a messy, choppy combo—more of a kite session than a paddle.

Sunday the 9th has a clean morning with a cross-offshore breeze from the N at 12 mph, and 3 ft from the WSW (energy 75, weak). Afternoon goes lighter, but cross-on. Still nothing special.

The real standout, if you can call it that, is Saturday morning the 8th of August. It’s the only time in the whole run where the conditions line up—glassy wind, a bit of size at 4 ft from the SW. But don’t get too excited; it’s a short-period wind swell, and the break is exposed and fairly consistent. The crowds are “sometimes” an issue, so you might have a few mates out. Because the swell is under 5 ft, beginners could have a go, but the quality is very ordinary.

From the 10th onward, it’s back to tiny, poor surf. The 11th of August has a couple of clean afternoons with 1 ft and a longer period of 9 seconds, but the energy is only 22 (weak). The 14th of August morning shows 3 ft from the SW, clean with a cross-offshore breeze from the N at 9 mph, but the period is 5 seconds—weak and short.

So, bottom line: if you’re desperate, the morning of Saturday the 8th of August is your best bet. Everything else is a miss. The surf stays poor for long stretches, which is a bit more normal for this area. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a flat spell.

Rusty.

Read more