Conto Springs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your wettie, because this is a long-range forecast that’s got some serious potential, but you’ll need to be patient and pick your moments. We’re looking at a solid run of WSW groundswell, but the wind is going to be the main character for the first week or so. The standout is going to be Conto Springs, a very consistent reef break that’s exposed to the swell. The water here is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 66°.

We kick off Tuesday the 18th of August with a big pulse of swell, a solid 15ft from the WSW at 16 seconds (very long period). The energy is massive, registering 11254, but the wind is a cross-on 12 mph from the WNW, making it pretty choppy. This is heavy, powerful stuff, and with the onshore wind, it’s a miss for good surfing. The afternoon gets worse with a 19 mph onshore wind. Not the day for a paddle.

Wednesday the 19th is similar. The swell is still pumping at 15ft, but the wind is still a problem. The morning has a cross-shore breeze from the SW, which is a bit better, but there’s still a cross-chop. The energy is huge again at 9031. This is expert territory, but not clean.

Thursday the 20th sees the swell drop a little to 13ft, but it’s still cross-onshore and choppy. The energy is still in the moderate-to-strong range. Not great.

Now, hold onto your board. Friday the 21st of August is where it gets interesting. The morning is glassy. That’s right, glassy. A 3 mph breeze from the WSW, flat water. The swell is a solid 12ft from the SW at 15 seconds. The energy is still strong at 4811, but the conditions will be clean. This is the first real window of opportunity for experienced surfers. Saturday the 22nd morning is also glassy with a 10ft swell from the SW at 16 seconds. Two mornings of clean, big surf. The Saturday afternoon turns cross-offshore, which is also clean. This is the best of the first week.

Sunday the 23rd the wind cranks back up, and the swell drops a bit. It’s cross-shore and lumpy. Not the one.

Monday the 24th is a write-off – onshore gale-force winds. Avoid.

Tuesday the 25th gets messy with rain showers and a strong cross-shore wind, but the swell is building again. The afternoon shows a 16ft, 13-second swell from the SW with a cross-shore breeze. The energy is massive at 9378, but it’s going to be a bumpy, powerful mess. This is kite-surfing territory, not a relaxing paddle.

Wednesday the 26th through Thursday the 27th is a slow decline in size and quality, with light onshore winds. Not inspiring.

But then, we get to Friday the 28th of August. This is where the stars align. The morning is clean with a light cross-offshore breeze from the ENE. The swell is 7ft from the WSW, but look at the period: 19 seconds! That’s a very long-period groundswell. The energy is 3979. This is going to be a clean, powerful, and lined-up day at Conto Springs. For a reef, that long period is a dream. The afternoon is also clean, with a 8ft, 18-second swell from the SW. This is the true standout.

Saturday the 29th is also good. The morning is gentle cross-shore with a 10ft, 16-second swell. The afternoon is glassy clean with a 8ft, 16-second swell. Two solid days.

Now, the real cherry on top is Sunday the 30th of August. The morning has a 13ft, 18-second swell from the WSW with a gentle cross-shore breeze. The afternoon is clean with a 13ft, 18-second swell, light cross-offshore wind from the NE. The energy is 9752, and the forecast is calling it exceptional for experts. That is the best session on offer. It’s a week and a half away, so it’s a long-range promise, but it looks incredible.

Monday the 31st of August suffers from a strong onshore wind, so that big 16ft swell is a no-go. Tuesday the 1st of September has a light onshore breeze, so the 15ft swell won’t be perfect, but it’s still big. The forecast then goes downhill from the 2nd of September with onshore winds.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a battle with the wind for big-wave hunters. The clear standouts are the glassy mornings of Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd, and the clean, long-period surf of Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th. But the absolute best is the Sunday the 30th of August afternoon. Mark it in your calendar, but keep an eye on the wind.

Rusty.

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