Coombesgate Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a grim start. We’re looking at a long, dry stretch with absolutely nothing worth paddling out for. The first solid surf isn’t even on the radar until the end of the month, so we’ve got a proper gap of several days with no recommendations.

The only spot in the frame is Coombesgate Beach, a beach-and-reef setup that’s fairly consistent. But even then, it’s a tough watch. The water is sitting at 66°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a solid 4° above the long-term average, so you’ll be leaving the thick wetsuit at home.

For the first week, from Thursday the 20th right through to the end of the month, every single session is a write-off. We’ve got rain showers, clear skies, and a bit of everything wind-wise, but the swell is tiny and the code is consistently “poor surf conditions.” The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the combined energy values are low, barely cracking 100 (334) on the 20th, and then dropping right down to single digits for days. It’s a total non-event.

The outlook picks up slightly on the 27th of August, with a small bump in energy (132) as a 3ft W swell rolls in, but it’s cross-on and choppy. Not a goer.

Then we hit the end of the month. On Saturday the 29th of August, we see a jump. The morning brings a 6ft WSW swell with a 7-second period and a combined energy of 338 – that’s moderate energy. The wind is a gentle cross-shore, so there’s some shape. But the crowd factor is “sometimes,” so you might have company. This is the first real glimmer of hope, but 6ft is getting up there for beginners.

The real standout, and the only one I’d call a true highlight, arrives on Saturday the 29th of August in the afternoon. The swell pushes to 10ft from the WSW, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy rockets to 1436 – that’s strong wave energy. But here’s the catch: the wind is a fresh cross-onshore, making it lumpy. This is big, powerful stuff. At 10ft, this is for experts only. The long period (9 seconds isn’t super long, but it’s enough) and the size will make the beach break tricky. It’s going to be a big, messy, powerful close-out unless you’re on a reef. Honestly, given the onshore wind and the size, this setup at a beach-and-reef looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Moving into the second week, Sunday the 30th keeps the size up with a 10ft W swell and 1219 energy, but it’s cross-on and choppy again. Monday the 31st drops off a bit. Then Tuesday the 1st of September brings a 7ft WSW swell with 439 energy, but, yes, you guessed it, cross-on and lumpy. Wednesday the 2nd of September has a 8ft W swell with a 10-second period and 1175 energy, with onshore wind. The pattern is clear: plenty of swell, but the wind is ruining it.

The best of the second week is probably Thursday the 4th of September. The morning brings a 6ft WSW swell with a gentle cross-shore breeze and moderate energy (493). That’s the cleanest it gets, but it’s still a long way off.

So, to wrap it up: don’t bother for the first ten days. The only real chance of a decent wave is the 10ft pulse on the 29th of August, but it’s for experts only and the wind is messy. The 4th of September morning offers the cleanest conditions, but the swell is smaller. It’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

Read more