Conto Springs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Conto Springs. We’ve got a wild ride ahead, a real mixed bag of heavy south-west groundswells and some shockin' wind. The first solid chance to get a wave in isn't until Friday the 14th of August, and even then, it's a bit of a compromise.

Friday 14th August: The swell is already pumping straight out of the southwest, a solid 12 ft with a very long 15-second period. The combined energy is a massive 4553, so there's plenty of power. The water is sitting at 66°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The problem is the wind is a light cross-onshore from the west at 3 mph. It’s *okay*, but not the cleanest. The report says "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions". It’s not a stand-out, but it's our only real option to start the week.

Saturday 15th August to Monday 18th August: This is where it gets ugly. We're looking at a solid 3-day stretch of no good surf. The swell is actually huge, hitting 16 ft on Monday afternoon with an insane 13468 energy reading, but the wind is howling onshore from the west at 25 mph. It's going to be a total mess, choppy and lumpy. The sheer size and power with that wind means it's more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing one. Don't even bother.

Tuesday 19th August to Thursday 21st August: The wind starts to cooperate a little. Wednesday the 19th afternoon is looking promising. The swell is still a meaty 15 ft from the WSW with a 16-second period and energy of 9873. The wind switches to a light cross-shore from the WSW at 6 mph. This is a big improvement, and the report gives it an 8/10 for quality. It’s a cleaner, more manageable size. Thursday the 20th is similar, with a 13 ft SW swell and light cross-onshore winds.

Friday 21st August – The Standout Morning: This is the one to circle on the calendar. Friday morning, the wind goes offshore from the southeast at 6 mph. That's clean! The swell is a still-strong 12 ft from the southwest with a 14-second period and 4395 energy. The report says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." This is the best of the first week. The offshore wind is a major positive, and the long period groundswell will mean great shape, though it might be a bit straight for the beach break, so Conto’s reef setup is the go. Expect crowds to be possible.

Saturday 22nd August: Another good one. Saturday afternoon, the wind drops to glassy! The swell is 10 ft from the SW with a very long 17-second period. The energy is 4845. The report says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." This is a real treat. Glassy, long-period groundswell, that’s a recipe for perfection.

Sunday 23rd August to Monday 25th August: The wind turns nasty again. Fresh onshore breezes make it messy and lumpy. There's a gap in quality until Tuesday the 25th of August.

Tuesday 25th August – The Second Standout: Tuesday morning sees a massive 18 ft swell from the WSW with a 16-second period and an enormous 14824 energy reading. The wind is offshore from the SSW at 19 mph, keeping it clean. This is huge, very powerful, and only for the most experienced. This is a rare, big swell event with great wind. The second week is looking like a big-wave hunter's paradise, but it's more uncertain at this range.

Wednesday 26th August onwards: The rest of the window is a mix of moderate to large swells but with onshore winds again. The 28th of August has a super long 19-second period swell, but it's small at 5 ft and the wind is onshore, so it's a miss.

So, to wrap it up: For the first week, the best bet is the offshore morning on Friday the 21st of August and the glassy afternoon on Saturday the 22nd of August. For the second week, keep an eye on Tuesday the 25th of August for a big, clean, powerful session, but it's a long-range call so be ready for changes.

Rusty.

Read more