Flatrock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, looking at what’s on offer at Flatrock. It’s a reef break that really only suits the advanced crew, handling a SW groundswell best.

The next week or so is a mixed bag. We’ve got a bit of a wait before anything truly turns on. Friday the 31st of July starts off with some knee-to-waist high SW swell, around 5 ft with a 13-second period, and the morning has a clean cross-off breeze. Problem is, it’s only scoring as marginal due to tide, and the combined energy is moderate at 941. The afternoon gets a bit more energy (1282) but the wind swings cross-on and messes it up a bit.

Saturday the 1st of August sees a bigger jump – a solid 7 ft SW groundswell with a very long 17-second period, but a fresh 30 km/h cross-shore wind kills it. That energy jumps to 2803, but it’s lumpy and not worth paddling out. That continues through Sunday and Monday – big swell (8 ft to 10 ft), strong winds, and rain. The combined energy hits 6415 on Sunday afternoon, but it’s a complete write-off. The swell is too big and wind too strong, especially for a reef setup – it’s more of a kite-surfing scene than a paddle one.

The best window in this first week is Tuesday the 4th of August morning. Glassy conditions, a light 6 ft SSW swell with a 12-second period, and the combined energy sits at 1221. It’s clean and the offshore wind means it’ll be peeling nicely. This is the standout for the near-term, but it’s not huge – just a good, clean session for the experienced. The afternoon gets a bit of cross-on wind, taking the edge off.

Later in the week, Thursday the 6th of August morning is another glassy moment – 8 ft SW swell, 16-second period, and clean. The combined energy is moderate at 2736, but it’s a bit of a bigger, more powerful wave. That’s a solid option for those who can handle it.

Now, looking further out, there’s a gap from the 9th through the 12th with nothing but poor conditions – big, windy, and blown out. Then, on Thursday the 13th of August, things get interesting. A massive 13 ft SW groundswell with a 19-second period rolls in, but the morning has a gentle cross-on wind, so it’s a bit choppy on the surface. The energy is very strong at 10320. Friday the 14th of August morning is the real long-range standout: an 12 ft SW swell, 18-second period, with a clean cross-shore breeze. The energy is still very strong at 8132. That’s a big, powerful groundswell that will handle the reef well, but it’s expert-only territory. The period is long, so expect long lulls between sets, making the paddle out easier, but the wave itself will be demanding. It’s promising, but with a 2-week lead time, treat it as a hopeful note in the diary.

The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing wild. Crowds at Flatrock can pop up sometimes, so expect company on the Tuesday and Thursday mornings if you’re keen.

Rusty.

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