Emerald Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's coming down the line for Emerald Beach.

This one's a bit of a mixed bag, a frustrating stretch with a few bright spots. The first real run of decent waves hits us on Wednesday morning, the 19th of August, and that's where the attention should be.

That Wednesday morning sets the stage. We've got a solid 1.6m swell coming out of the ESE, and it's packing some serious punch with a combined energy of 554 – that's moderate energy with a bit of grunt behind it. The period is a nice 10 seconds, so those waves will have some shape. But the absolute star of the show is the wind: glassy, dead calm from the south at just 3 mph. That means Emerald Beach will be clean as a whistle. It's a point break, exposed to the swell, and that NE optimum direction lines up nicely with the swell direction we're getting. It's going to be firing. Keep in mind, it's often crowded here, so get your skates on if you want a piece of it.

For the rest of the August run, it's mostly poor. Thursday the 20th sees a drop in quality with poor winds, and then we're into a run of small, weak, and messy conditions for days. Saturday morning the 22nd is glassy but tiny at 0.8m, so it's a longboard-only affair if you're desperate. There's a brief flurry of hope on Sunday the 23rd with some offshore wind and clean 0.8m surf, but it's still very ordinary. The following week, from the 25th onward, is mostly poor with onshore winds and small bumpy waves, though there's a few glimpses of clean conditions in the mornings. The surf size is lacking, and the combined energy stays low, well under 100 on most days.

Further out, Sunday the 30th of August could be worth an early look. There's a risk of thunderstorms, but we've got a light offshore wind from the south at 3 mph and a clean 0.9m swell from the E with a combined energy of 122. It's not a slab, but it's clean. Then Monday the 31st brings a moderate offshore breeze from the SSW at 16 mph, keeping the 0.8m ENE swell clean, though the energy is moderate at 114. The wind is a bit stiff, but it's offshore.

For the start of September, it's a tough stretch. Strong southerly winds will be blowing, making the conditions challenging. The swell stays small and short-period. It's mostly going to be a write-off for decent paddle surfing through the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of September. The setup here, with the combination of wind and swell, might actually be more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer during those days.

So, to sum it up: Wednesday morning the 19th is your clear winner. After that, you're chasing scraps until maybe the 30th or 31st, but don't get your hopes up too high. It's one of those stretches where the forecast can change, but as it stands, you've got one golden morning and then a lot of time to wax your board.

Rusty.

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