Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright crew, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for our local patch.

First off, the water temp at Cottons Point is sitting at a very unusual 76°, which is a whopping 9° warmer than it should be for this time of year. That’s a real standout, feels more like tropical bathwater than a typical August morning.

Right now, we’ve got a bit of a dry spell to kick things off. The forecast shows poor surf conditions straight through the first week with barely a ripple worth paddling for. Swell heights are tiny, mostly hovering around 2ft, and the wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, keeping things choppy or just flat. The combined wave energy is moderate at best, with readings between 141 and 458 (moderate energy), but it’s all pretty weak and messy. No standouts here, just a lot of nothing.

As we move into the second week, there’s a glimmer of hope but it’s still marginal. Monday the 10th afternoon shows a brief flicker with a 2ft SW swell and a very long 20-second period, giving a combined energy of 388. The wind turns onshore with a light breeze, but it’s still only a 1 out of 10 quality call. That long period groundswell (over 15 seconds) means the waves will have real shape and energy, but at a point and reef like Cottons, it could line up nicely. Still, it’s a long way out and not solid.

The best of the bunch looks like Friday the 14th morning. We’ve got a 2ft SSW swell with a juicy 19-second period, combined wave energy climbing to 627 (moderate to strong). The wind is light and onshore from the WSW, which is about as clean as it gets here for the morning window. It’s still marginal, only a 2 out of 10 call, but compared to the rest of the fortnight, this is your best chance for a few lined-up sets that are rideable.

After that, the surf drops back to poor or marginal, with cross-on winds and chop ruining most of the afternoon sessions. Saturday the 15th afternoon sees swell bump up to 4ft but with a stiff 12 mph cross-on wind, it’ll be choppy and messy. That size is fine for intermediates but not worth the wind battle.

Overall, it’s a bleak stretch with no real standouts. The water is weirdly warm, but the surf just isn’t cooperating. Hang tight, check back on the 10th and 14th for that long-period pulse, but don’t clear your schedule.

Rusty.

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