
Surf Forecasts:
Desperations surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 8s period, SE swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 8s period, SE swell with 737 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 8s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Desperations this week:
The surf forecast for Desperations over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 12s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Desperations in the next 16 days are 2.3m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (+12) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Desperations over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it.
The next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag for Desperations. We’ve got some real size coming early on, but it’s going to be too much of a good thing for this spot. Then it backs right off, and we’re in for a flat spell before things start to build again towards the end. The water’s sitting right around 78 degrees, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
We kick things off this Saturday morning, the 8th. There’s some proper swell in the water, pushing 8ft from the southeast, with a moderate cross-shore breeze. The wave energy is strong, hitting 1656. The problem is, it’s just too big for this reef break. It’s going to be a washing machine. The afternoon doesn't get much better, still over 8ft and lumpy. If you’re not an expert, give it a miss.
Sunday the 9th is a total reset. The swell drops right off to 4ft from the SSE with an 11-second period. The energy is weak-moderate at 395. Sunday morning is glassy, dead calm, and clean. It’s small, but it's the cleanest it’s going to be for a few days. This is about as good as the small stuff gets.
Monday the 10th stays small, around 3-4ft, but the period jumps up to 15-16 seconds. That long-period groundswell might be a bit too straight for a beach break, but this being a reef, it could still offer up some shape. The morning is clean, but it's still marginal. Tuesday the 11th is smaller again, around 3ft, but there’s a nice cross-offshore wind in the morning and a 12-second period. It’ll be clean, but tiny. The energy is still weak at 629.
From Wednesday the 12th through to Friday the 14th, it’s a proper flat spell. We’re looking at ankle-biters, 1ft to 2ft, with some long 16-19 second periods. The energy drops way down, bottoming out around 204. Some glassy moments, sure, but there’s nothing to get excited about. This is a gap of several days with no real surf on offer.
Saturday the 15th sees the wind pick up out of the ESE at 15-18 mph, and it’s rainy and chopped up. The swell is still tiny, so it’s a complete write-off. Sunday the 16th brings a bit more size, 5-5ft from the SW, and the energy jumps back up to 1210. The morning is still a bit lumpy, but the afternoon cleans right up with a light cross-offshore breeze and a 12-second period. It’s pushing head-high and a bit of power behind it. This is looking like the best of the bunch so far.
Now, for the real standout. Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th. The swell fills in properly. We’re talking 6ft to 7ft from the SSW, with a long 17-22 second period. The energy is strong, hitting 3242. The winds are a bit messy on Monday, but Tuesday afternoon, the 18th, is the one. The wind drops to glass, the swell is a solid 7ft, and the energy is pumping at 2382. This is a serious groundswell, big and powerful. It’s going to be a heavy, expert-only session. This is the standout. The long period and the size will make it a real freight train.
After that, the swell backs off a touch but stays fun. Wednesday the 19th has a glassy afternoon with 5ft swell and a 14-second period. Energy is moderate at 921. Thursday the 20th sees the wind swing offshore and pick up, but the swell is down to 4-4ft. Friday the 21st is interesting. It’s small in the morning, 3ft, but the afternoon sees a pulse of 6ft from the SSW with a 14-second period, and the wind is blowing fresh offshore from the NNE. That’s clean, offshore, and a decent size. It’s a good option, definitely a solid runner-up.
The final weekend, Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd, gets a bit messy again. The wind swings onshore and picks up, and the swell gets chopped up. It’s not worth the drive.
So, to sum it up. The standout is Tuesday afternoon, the 18th – big, clean, and powerful, experts only. The next best is probably Sunday the 16th afternoon, which offers up a clean, solid head-high wave. And keep an eye on Friday the 21st afternoon for some clean offshore conditions. The rest is either too big, too small, or too windy.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 22°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 17 | S 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 20 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
945 | 737 | 381 | 319 | 270 | 499 | 503 | 612 | 402 | 172 | 371 | 224 | 102 | 104 | 103 | 148 | 98 | 150 | 125 | 125 | 159 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | glassy | glassy | off | off | off |
High Tide | 2:25PM1.29m | 2:29AM1.59m | 3:32PM1.36m | 3:31AM1.66m | 4:31PM1.45m | 4:29AM1.74m | 5:24PM1.54m | 5:22AM1.79m | 6:13PM1.62m | 6:13AM1.81m | 6:59PM1.67m | 7:02AM1.78m | 7:43PM1.69m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:08PM0.52m | 9:12AM0.21m | 9:16PM0.47m | 10:11AM0.11m | 10:17PM0.40m | 11:05AM0.03m | 11:13PM0.32m | 11:54AM-0.03m | 00:05AM0.27m | 12:40PM-0.03m | 00:55AM0.24m | 1:24PM0.00m | 1:44AM0.23m | ||||||||
6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
— | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 |
Temp °C | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
Feels °C | 22 | 23 | 19 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 23 | 22 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 12 | S 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 |
561 | 410 | 318 | 319 | 270 | 237 | 503 | 612 | 402 | 172 | 371 | 224 | 102 | 98 | 68 | 47 | 98 | 86 | 125 | 125 | 104 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSE 18 | S 18 | SSE 17 | SSE 11 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 12 | SSE 11 | SW 18 |
64 | 57 | 27 | 113 | 156 | 499 | 167 | 84 | 127 | 152 | 121 | 173 | 66 | 104 | 103 | 148 | 81 | 150 | 71 | 43 | 159 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 18 | NW 12 | NW 12 | S 16 | SW 14 | NNW 11 | SW 14 | NNW 13 | SSW 21 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | NW 13 | SW 20 | SSE 11 |
37 | 36 | 31 | 12 | 35 | 49 | 80 | 23 | 22 | 124 | 54 | 12 | 48 | 18 | 44 | 45 | 44 | 17 | 26 | 97 | 40 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | — | ESE 9 | — | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | — | — | SE 8 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 7 |
945 | 737 | 381 | — | 252 | — | 151 | 128 | 219 | 147 | 226 | — | — | 35 | 51 | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1228 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 868 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 82 |
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Information about the Desperations Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Desperations provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Desperations can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Desperations surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Desperations) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Desperations may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.











