Costa Nova Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s coming down the line for our stretch of coast. The next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest. We’ve got waves on offer, but we’re going to have to pick our moments. The mornings are where it’s at, especially when the wind drops out and the ocean cleans right up. The afternoons, well, they’re mostly going to be a write-off with the sea breeze chopping everything up.

We kick things off this Sunday morning the 9th. First light’s looking okay, with a 3ft west swell wrapping in. The air’s glassy, which is always a good start, but the energy is a bit on the weak side (130). It’s surfable, but nothing special. The afternoon’s a total loss though – the wind swings around to the northwest at 12 mph and it just turns into a messy cross-on mess.

Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th are pretty average for the early sessions. Small, weak swells around 2ft to 3ft and a light cross-shore breeze that puts a bit of a crinkle on the surface. You’ll get waves, but you’ll be working for them. The afternoons are a write-off again, with a stronger cross-offshore wind ruining any chance of clean faces.

Now, here’s where things start to look up. Wednesday morning the 12th is a proper little window. The wind is dead glassy, the swell is 3ft from the west-northwest, and the period is a solid 10 seconds. The energy is picking up to a moderate 216. It’s not huge, but it’s clean and should have a bit of push to it. This is your best bet for a fun, tidy session in the first part of the week.

Thursday the 13th morning has a similar-sized swell with a good 10-second period, but a light cross-on breeze makes it a bit less appealing than Wednesday. The energy is up to 310, so there’s definitely power out there, but that wind is just enough to knock the shine off. The afternoon is a no-go with that 16 mph cross-on.

Friday the 14th is another morning glory. Glassy conditions return, with a 3ft west-northwest swell at 9 seconds and moderate energy (227). It’s going to be clean and fun, not a classic but a good, honest surf. After lunch, the onshore wind hits again.

The weekend is when we get some size, but the quality drops. Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th see waves pushing the 5ft to 6ft mark from the northwest, but the period drops back to a short 7 seconds. There’s plenty of energy (250-320), but it’s going to be a bit lumpy and disorganised with those short-period wind swells. The mornings are crossed-up, and the afternoons are onshore junk. This is getting a bit too big and messy for the beginners, and even for the intermediates it’ll be a battle.

Now for the standout, and it’s a good one. Monday morning the 17th is the pick of the whole period. The swell jumps to 6ft from the north-northwest with a solid 8-second period. The wind is glassy, dead calm. The energy reading is a strong 497 – that’s a proper push of water. This is the biggest, cleanest swell we’ll see in the whole stretch. The waves will have real power, and with that light wind, it should be firing. This is definitely one for the experienced crew; at 6ft, it’s holding some size. Just remember it’s a long-range call, so don’t book the week off work just yet, but keep an eye on it.

After that, the swell backs off a bit. Tuesday the 18th is still a decent 5ft from the north-northwest, but with more wind, it’s not as clean. The rest of the week from the 19th through to the 24th is a slow fade. We’re back to smaller swells, 2ft to 4ft, with a mix of glassy mornings and blown-out afternoons. The energy drops away and, honestly, it looks pretty ordinary. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so you won’t need the thickest rubber.

So, to sum it up: Wednesday morning the 12th is the quiet, clean option. But if you want the real deal of the fortnight, you’re looking at Monday the 17th. That’s your standout. A proper slug of swell and clean conditions – the whole package. Get in the water, eh?

Rusty.

Read more