Conto Springs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s brewing for the next couple of weeks.

First up, we’ve got a massive pulse of energy rolling in. The combined swell energy is a whopping 4532 (moderate), but that’s just the start of a wild ride. The real story here is the size and the power. Monday morning is a write-off – a strong 28 mph cross-shore wind from the SW and 15 ft of messy, period-poor swell (10 seconds). That’s not surf for anyone.

But hold on, because Monday afternoon at Conto Springs (reef) starts to show a glimmer. The wind backs off a little to 25 mph, goes cross-offshore, and the swell jumps to 18 ft from the SW with a period of 13 seconds and a combined energy of 10298 (moderate). The surf is still marginal, but that’s a serious amount of water moving. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Tuesday, the 11th of August, is where we have a true standout. Tuesday morning is the pick of the whole window. We’re looking at a 20 ft SW groundswell with a very long period of 16 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 35899 (strong to very strong). The wind is a clean 16 mph cross-offshore from the SSW. This is a big, powerful, clean day. The caveat here – this is a reef break, and 20 ft with a 16-second period is pure expert territory. For the experienced crew, it’s going to be an absolute freight train. The wave comment says it’s too big for this break, but for the right surfer, that’s the call.

Tuesday afternoon drops to 16 ft with a cross-shore wind, still big but less clean. The energy remains high at 13957.

From Wednesday the 12th through to the 15th, things settle down but remain surfable. The swell drops to 12 ft-13 ft, with periods around 15-17 seconds. The winds are mostly light cross-onshore, creating a bit of chop. The combined energy is still decent (5091 to 9464). It’s not the glory of Tuesday morning, but it’s consistent. The break is very consistent, so there will be waves.

The 15th and 16th of August are a bit of a write-off – strong onshore northerlies and choppy conditions. Then we get another interesting window on the 17th of August. Monday morning brings a 15 ft WSW swell with an 18-second period, combined energy of 12102, and offshore wind from the NW. This is promising, but the wave comment is “marginal,” so it’s not a guarantee. The crowd factor at Conto Springs is “sometimes,” so you might not have it to yourself.

The rest of the second week is a bit of a mess. Strong winds from the 18th to the 21st, with onshore and cross-onshore winds making it lumpy and poor. The swell is big again (13 ft-20 ft), but the quality is gone.

We then have a blank spell until the 23rd of August. Sunday the 23rd is a hidden gem. Glassy conditions in the morning, with a gentle 8 ft SW swell at 14 seconds. The combined energy is 2962 (weak). The wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is a much smaller, cleaner, friendlier day. Perfect for a confident intermediate or expert. The wind is flat calm, making it glassy. This is a real surprise at the end of the run.

Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th fade out with onshore winds and smaller, choppier waves.

So, the standout is crystal clear: Tuesday, 11th of August, morning. If you’ve got the skills for a 20 ft reef break with a 16-second period, that’s the one. The second pick is Sunday, 23rd of August, morning for a much more manageable, glassy, clean 8 ft session.

Rusty.

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