Emerald Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – for the next sixteen days, Emerald Beach is looking like a tough gig. We’ve got a long, frustrating stretch of nothing much for a surfer, but let’s walk through it so you know what you’re dealing with.

For the first week or so, it’s pretty grim. There’s a brief flicker of hope on the morning of Thursday the 3rd of September, with a modest 5 ft swell from the NNE, but it’s a short-period 6 second wind swell, wonky cross-shore wind from the NW at 19 mph, and the wave comment calls it “marginal.” The water temp is a very comfortable 68°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so at least a dip won’t bite. But honestly, that’s the only real event for days.

After that Thursday, we hit a proper desert. From Friday the 4th right through to the morning of Thursday the 17th of September – that’s nearly two full weeks – there’s nothing worth paddling out for. Wave heights are tiny, mostly under 3 ft, the wind is all over the shop with a lot of onshore or cross-onshore slop, and the combined swell energy rarely cracks triple digits. For example, Saturday the 5th afternoon has a 4 ft wave but with a horrible 16 mph onshore wind from the NNE. No good. The 8th of September morning sees a rare offshore breeze from the S at 12 mph, but with only 1.0 ft of swell, you’re not catching a thing. There’s a brief pulse on Monday the 14th afternoon with 6 ft coming from the NNE and 6 second period, but the wind is howling onshore from the NNE at 19 mph, and the energy reading is 257 – moderate in the tank but blown to bits. Tuesday the 15th afternoon pushes 7 ft from the NNE, period still 6 seconds, but again, 19 mph onshore NNE wind, so it’s a washing machine. That’s kite-surf stuff, not paddle surfing.

The one true standout – and I’m using the term loosely – is the very last call in the period. On the morning of Friday the 18th of September, we get a little pulse of 2 ft from the ENE, period of 8 seconds, and a clean offshore wind from the SSW at 9 mph. The wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” The combined energy is just 58, so weak. It’s not going to blow anyone’s mind, but after two weeks of nothing, it’s the only window with a hint of shape. If you’re desperate, that’s your only real shot. Even then, be warned: the break is a point setup, and it’s fairly consistent, but the optimum swell direction is NE – we’re getting ENE, so it’s not a perfect match. Crowds can be often around here, but honestly, on a 2 ft morning with weak energy, you might have it to yourself.

So there you have it. A long blank run, one very ordinary option at the very end. Forecasts can change, but for now, this stretch is a write-off for decent waves.

Rusty.

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