Emerald Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at the charts for your patch, trying to find some juice. Honestly, it’s a pretty lean run ahead. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, ordinary surf with no real standout sessions. The first proper surfable spell doesn’t show up until Thursday morning the 6th of August, but even then it’s tiny and average.

Thursday 6th August kicks things off at Emerald Beach, a point break. The water’s sitting at 68°F, which is about normal for this time of year. We’ve got a tiny 1ft swell rolling in from the ESE with a period of 9 seconds, so the energy is weak (50). The wind is offshore from the SSW at 9 mph, keeping it clean. The waves are surfable but very ordinary. Not worth getting excited about.

Friday 7th August morning, the swell bumps up a touch to 2ft from the ENE, period a short 7 seconds. The wind goes glassy – dead calm – but the wave comment says it’s still poor surf conditions. The energy is still weak (37). For an exposed point, small, short-period swell isn’t going to shape up nicely.

The weekend is a write-off. Saturday 8th has a slight increase to 3ft from the ENE, period 7 seconds, but the wind goes cross-shore. Sunday 9th August gets a bit more size at 4ft from the ENE, period 9 seconds, but the wind swings cross-onshore from the NNW at 12 mph, and then onshore from the NNE at 19 mph in the afternoon. It’s going to be choppy and messy. The combined energy climbs to moderate (225-264), but with the wind and short period, it’s for the kites, not the paddle.

Monday 10th August morning has the biggest swell so far at 5ft from the NNE, but with a short 7-second period and moderate cross-shore wind, it’s poor. The afternoon goes glassy with a 2ft, 9-second ENE swell and moderate energy (174), but again, the comment says ordinary conditions.

From Tuesday 11th August through to Thursday the 21st, the swell sits between 2ft and 4ft, mostly from the ENE or E, with periods between 6 and 10 seconds. The energy is mostly weak to moderate. There are some pockets of offshore wind, especially from Friday 14th onward, with clean conditions, but the swell is tiny – 2ft to 3ft. The waves are surfable but very ordinary. The best consistent run of clean, small waves looks to be from Friday 14th August morning through to Saturday 15th August afternoon, with a light 2ft E swell, 10-second period, and light offshore/cross-off winds. That’s your best bet if you’re desperate for a paddle, but it’s nothing to write home about.

The point break here is exposed and needs a decent push of swell from the NE to work. We’re not getting that direction in any meaningful size. Consistency is fairly consistent, which is a positive, but the size just isn’t there. Crowds are likely at a spot like this when conditions are clean and small, so keep that in mind.

Overall, this 16-day window is a quiet one. There are no standout days. The forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a waiting game for something better.

- Rusty

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