Conto Springs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s shaping up for our local reef.

Straight up, we’ve got a solid run of swell on the way, but it’s not all smooth sailing. The water is sitting at 67° right now, which is a solid 4° warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s notable, and it might feel a bit bath-like at first, but the swell will be the main event.

We kick off the outlook this Saturday afternoon, the 22nd of August. The first offering is a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a 8ft SW groundswell with a very long period of 16 seconds, pushing a combined energy of 3102. That’s a lot of power, but it’s coming in with a cross-off wind from the S at 12 mph. The waves will be clean, but the tide conditions aren’t ideal, so it’s a bit of a fight to get the best out of it. This is a spot for experienced surfers only today.

Sunday the 23rd sees the swell easing slightly to 8-8ft from the SW, still with a long period. The morning is a bit windy, but the afternoon looks better with a lighter cross-off breeze from the SSW at 9 mph. The energy is still high, ranging from 2718 to 3471, but again, the tide is a bit of a spoiler.

Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th are a write-off. The wind swings onshore from the NW, smashing the place up. The swell gets bigger, up to 12ft on Tuesday, but with 22 mph winds, the surface is blown out. This is kite-surfing territory, not for paddling.

Then we hit a major hiccup. Wednesday the 26th sees a massive 18ft SW groundswell rolling in, with a period of 19 seconds and an enormous combined energy of 20873. That’s a monster. The wind is light and cross-on in the morning, but the size is simply too big for this break. The afternoon has a cleaner look with a cross-off wind, but it’s still 18ft. This is big-wave territory for experts only, and even then, it’s pushing the limits.

The swell drops back to 12ft on Thursday the 27th, but the wind is still strong from the SSE at 19 mph. The afternoon does see an offshore wind, making it clean, but the energy is still high at 4215. It’s a solid session for the experienced crew who can handle the size.

Now, here’s where we get a true standout. Friday the 28th of August. The morning is the pick. We’ve got a 7ft SW swell with a 12-second period, giving a moderate energy of 1430. The wind is a clean offshore from the SE at 12 mph. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The waves will be clean, lined up, and the crowd factor is a possibility, but with this quality, it’ll be worth it.

Saturday the 29th is another cracker. The morning sees a 8ft SW groundswell return with a very long 16-second period (energy 3671) and a light cross-off wind. The real highlight is the afternoon: a 12ft SW groundswell, 16-second period, and glassy offshore wind from the SSE. This is exceptional surf for expert surfers. The energy is high at 5944, but the conditions are as good as it gets.

The first week of September keeps the swell running. The 1st of September has a clean 8ft SW swell in the morning with light offshore winds. The 5th of September is a serious stand-out for the long range. Both the morning and afternoon offer 13ft SW groundswell with an 18-second period and a moderate offshore wind from the ESE. The energy is massive at 9050, and the forecast for these sessions is exceptional for experts. This is one to circle on the calendar.

The 6th of September rolls in with another 18ft pulse, but it’s coming from the WSW with onshore winds. Too big and messy for a good time.

Bottom line: Friday morning the 28th of August is your best bet for a solid, manageable session in clean conditions. But if you’re an expert and want the big-game experience, Saturday afternoon the 29th of August is a true standout. For the second week, keep an eye on Saturday the 5th of September – that’s a promising big swell day, but it’s a long way out, so don’t get your hopes up too high just yet.

Rusty.

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