Coombesgate Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me tell you how it's shaping up. This is Rusty, and I've got to be straight with you: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle. The water's sitting at a warm 66°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, but that's about the only thing that's out of the ordinary in a good way.

The pattern for the whole period is a long stretch of onshore or cross-shore winds and small, weak swell. For the first twelve days, from Wednesday the 12th of August right through to Sunday the 23rd, it's pretty much a write-off. You'll see tiny waves, mostly under 3ft, with the combined swell energy barely getting into triple digits. The wind is almost always from the west, northwest, or southwest, putting it straight onshore or cross-onshore at Coombesgate Beach, and the forecast keeps calling it "poor surf conditions." The swell periods are mostly short, between 6 and 9 seconds, so there's no real power behind them.

There's a slight tease on Monday the 24th of August. We get a bit of a bump, with swell hitting 5ft from the WSW, and the wind finally turns light from the SSE, which is cross-offshore and clean. The combined energy jumps to 288, which is moderate. The morning session that day is rated as "expect good surf conditions." It's still a beach and reef setup, and with the swell period only 8 seconds, it might be a bit jumbled, but it'll be the cleanest you'll see all fortnight. That's your one true standout, but keep in mind the afternoon sees some light rain and the quality drops off.

After that, it's right back to onshore wind and dropping swell for the rest of the period. The waves fade out to nothing by the 27th, with howling 25 mph winds from the northwest.

Honestly, if you're desperate for a paddle, Monday the 24th morning is your only real chance. Otherwise, the setup with all that onshore wind and swell over 3ft might be more interesting for the kite surfers than anyone on a shortboard.

Rusty.

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