Forster Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, checking the surf. Looks like we’ve got a solid swell window coming in, but it’s not all green lights. The first couple of days have plenty of size and clean conditions from the south, but there’s a big catch coming with the wind. Then things drop right out before a rough, onshore mess moves in for the back end of the period.

The opening action kicks off Wednesday the 16th. Forster Beach (Mid-North Coast) is seeing a strong S swell pushing 12 ft at 10 seconds, and the combined energy is way up there at 2455, so there’s real power in the water. The SW wind is cross-off, keeping it clean, and the water temp is 68°F which is about normal for this time of year. That said, I’m calling this one for the experienced crew – it’s way over the 8 ft mark, so it’s expert-only territory. Amazing conditions for those who can handle it. Thursday morning sees a drop to 12 ft, still a big S swell at 11 seconds, and a lighter SW cross-off. This is a standout window. Thursday afternoon the size eases off to 10 ft but the period is still good, and it’s still clean. If you’re charging, Wednesday and Thursday mornings are your pick.

Now, Friday the 18th brings a big change. The size drops right back to around 6 ft and the period shortens to 9 seconds. The good news is a 3 mph NE glassy wind makes it look absolutely smooth. The problem is, this break isn't really built for this direction. It’s a beach setup and with the swell coming from the S and SE, it’s going to be a bit soft. The energy has dropped to 499 – weak. We get a brief clean morning but it’s not what you’d call epic. Saturday settles down further to 5 ft with a light SW cross-off, giving some decent little runners. The energy is still low at 907, but for the smaller board, it’s a fun few hours on the morning tide.

Sunday the 20th puts us in a lull – waves are down to under 3 ft, and even though the glassy conditions are lovely, there’s just not enough push. A long-period S swell of 19 seconds shows up in the afternoon, but it’s only 2 ft, so unless you’ve got a longboard and just want to bob around, it’s a skunk. Monday is more of the same – tiny and clean, but no real punch. That’s the calm before the storm.

From Tuesday the 22nd, we see a bump in size but it’s a mess. Onshore SSE winds bring in 6 ft of short, crumbly swell, and it’s basically a write-off. The period is only 9 seconds, and the onshores are messing it up. Wednesday the 23rd is worse – easterly wind at 15-19 mph, swelling to 8 ft, but it’s short-period, onshore junk. The kind of day only a kiteboarder would love. This trend continues through the 24th, 25th into the 26th. The swell direction shifts to the NE, but it’s riding a stiff onshore wind the whole time. We see 8 ft of short-period NE swell on the 26th with fresh cross-onshore winds – it’s going to be big, lumpy, and messy.

The 27th through the 30th is more of the same – NE winds, choppy, and generally poor. The energy is all over the place, but it’s all onshore slop. The 27th has 10 ft of short-period NE swell, but it’s close-shore and blown out. I wouldn't paddle out. The last day, the 1st of October, sees the wind finally swing offshore to the west. We’ve got a weak 4 ft ENE swell at 9 seconds, but it’s the first sign of something cleaner after a long, grim stretch. The energy is down around 315, so it’s not going to be a standout, but at least it’s offshore and workable.

To sum up: the two real standouts are Wednesday and Thursday mornings (16th and 17th) – big, powerful S swells, offshore winds, and clean. After that, there’s a real dry spell of quality surf until the very end. The second week is mostly a write-off with onshore winds and messy, short-period junk. If you don’t get out there when the south swells hit, you’re going to suffer through the rest. Keep an eye on that 1st of October morning, but don’t hold your breath.

Keep the wax on, but keep the board under your arm until you see the ocean.

Rusty.

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