Emerald Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, it's looking like a rough patch ahead for Emerald Beach, with a long stretch of flat or tiny surf bookending the period. The real excitement comes in the second week, but you've got to be patient. The water temp is sitting at 68°, which is about normal for this time of year, nothing to write home about.

This Sunday the 12th is a write-off. We've got a 3 – 3 ft ESE windswell with a weak period of 10 seconds, but the conditions are poor. Sunday morning has a cross-chop, and while the afternoon turns glassy, it's still just ordinary, weak surf. The combined energy is a moderate 127 (Sunday afternoon), but it's just not enough to get excited about.

Monday the 13th is even worse, dropping to 1 ft. The energy is a feeble 30 in the morning. We're looking at a few days of nothing. From Tuesday the 14th through to Thursday the 17th morning, it's flat or near-flat, with swell heights under 0.6 ft and energy readings in the single digits. The wind is offshore, clean, but there's no wave to push into. You're better off doing something else.

Now, here's where it gets interesting, but only if you're a very experienced surfer. From Friday the 17th morning through to Sunday the 19th afternoon, a serious swell arrives. We're talking 12 ft to 15 ft of SE to ESE groundswell. The period is a solid 10–11 seconds, building to a massive combined energy of 4612 (Saturday afternoon). The wind is a clean cross-off from the SSE. This is a big, powerful swell.

The problem is, Emerald Beach is a point break, and 15 ft is just too much. The forecast data confirms this is predicted to be too big for this break. This is expert-only territory, and even then, it's likely unsurfable. This might look more appealing to the kite crew than paddle surfers.

The window opens properly on Monday the 20th. The swell drops to a solid 8 ft from the east with a 10-second period and a combined energy of 1333. The wind is clean offshore from the SSW. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers, but 8 ft is still big and not for beginners. The afternoon gets a bit more borderline with some cross-shore wind.

Tuesday the 21st is a beauty. The swell settles to 5 ft, still from the east with a 10-second period (energy 482). The wind is glassy in the morning, turning to a light cross-off in the afternoon. This is the pick of the period for the average surfer. Clean, shoulder-high waves, good energy. Wednesday the 22nd is still good with a 3 ft E swell and offshore winds in the morning.

After that, from Thursday the 23rd onwards, the swell fades fast. We're back to knee-to-waist high 2 ft waves, with the combined energy dropping to 169 or less. The wind stays clean, but the size is gone. The final week is mostly small, weak surf with periods hitting 12 seconds but heights under 2 ft, making for a slow, flat finish.

Best Bet: The standout is Tuesday the 21st. It’s the perfect mix of size (5 ft), clean conditions (glassy morning), and a solid period. It’s the most accessible good surf for the widest range of surfers. The Monday the 20th is great for the experienced crew, but Tuesday is the one.

- Rusty

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