Emerald Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and here’s how it’s lookin’ for our stretch of coast.

Alright, first up – the early part of this forecast period is a proper wall of water. We’ve got a big, angry pulse of swell that’s just too damn powerful for this break. Sunday the 19th, that swell is hammering in at 13ft from the southeast, with a massive 3301 combined energy reading – that’s some serious grunt. The wave comment tells the story: “the swell is predicted to be too big for this break.” It’s cross-off wind, but honestly, this is a day to sit on the headland and watch, not paddle out. The water temp is a fairly normal 68°, so no surprises there for mid-winter.

Sunday arvo eases a smidge to 10ft from the east, period 11 seconds, still way too big (2152 energy). Monday the 20th is more of the same – 10ft morning, 8ft arvo, both too large. That Monday afternoon gets a marginal surf call too, so the window is tight even if you’re nuts enough to try.

Now, things start to turn our way by Tuesday the 21st. Morning drops to 6ft from the east, 10-second period, and we get clean offshore wind from the SSW. Combined energy is a moderate 612, and the call is “expect very good surf conditions.” This is our highlight of the whole run. Emerald Beach is a point break, and that east swell with a 10-second period should wrap in nicely. The offshore breeze will groom it up clean. Tuesday arvo holds at 5ft, light cross-off, energy at 470 – still good, but the morning is the pick.

Wednesday the 22nd goes downhill fast – onshore wind, poor conditions, tiny energy readings in the 200s. Thursday the 23rd has a glassy 4ft morning, but it’s weak and shifty, only 167 energy. From there, we slide into a long, dry spell.

From Friday the 24th right through to the end of the forecast on Monday the 3rd of August, it’s mostly flat or near-flat – wave heights below 2ft, combined energy mostly under 40, and scores of zero. There’s a few glassy or offshore days, but there’s just no swell to work with. Even the big period stuff late in July and early August (18-second groundswell from the east) only produces 0.7ft – that’s invisible surf.

So the big picture: we’ve got one genuine standout, and that’s Tuesday the 21st morning. Get it while it’s there, because after that, it’s a long stretch of flat to tiny waves. Crowds are likely at Emerald Beach as it’s often busy, but with quality like that offshore window, it’ll be worth sharing the peak. The rest of the run is a blank – not unusual for a mid-winter lull in these parts.

Stay frothy,
Rusty.

Read more