Forster Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and let’s get into it for Forster Beach. The overall pattern is a bit of a mixed bag — we’ve got some solid energy rolling in, but the winds are gonna be fiddly, and only a few windows really line up for a proper session. The best of the lot stacks up on the first weekend of August, with a couple of standout morning windows that’ll have you frothing. Let’s break it down.

The swell kicks off on Friday the 31st of July, but it’s a write-off — 6ft south swell with a cross-shore breeze and a cross-chop has the water messy. Energy is moderate at 648, but the combo of wind and texture makes it a no-go. Saturday the 1st of August looks better early: a light cross-offshore breeze from the WSW at 6 mph cleans up that same 6ft southerly swell, and the water temp is a normal 66° for this time of year. The waves are clean and inviting, with moderate energy (622) making it a solid option for a dawny. By afternoon, the wind swings SE and goes cross-on, ruining the surface.

Sunday the 2nd of August has a boost in energy — 1147, strong — with a 6ft SSE swell and a long 13-second period. That’s proper groundswell. But the morning has a cross-shore breeze and a bit of a wind ripple, so it’s only marginal. The afternoon turns poor with a cross-onshore wind. Monday the 3rd of August is the pick of the first week: glassy conditions in the afternoon with a light N wind at 3 mph, 4ft SE swell at 11-second period, and clean, glassy surf. The energy is moderate (302), but the quality is there. The morning is also good with a cross-offshore breeze and 4ft swell. That Monday afternoon is a true standout — glassy, clean, and a pleasure to paddle.

Tuesday the 4th of August drops right off — tiny 1ft swell with weak energy (45) — and Wednesday the 5th of August morning has a clean 4ft SSW swell with offshore WSW wind at 6 mph, energy at 337, but it’s not a standout. Thursday the 6th of August morning is glassy again with a 6ft S swell, energy at 578, and clean conditions — another good window. The second week starts to thin out: Friday the 7th of August morning is glassy with 5ft, but by Saturday the 8th of August, the swell drops and the winds turn onshore. There’s a long gap from Saturday the 8th through to Tuesday the 11th of August where the surf is mostly poor or tiny, with only a few ordinary waves.

The real bright spot comes late in the forecast: Tuesday the 11th of August afternoon has a clean 3ft ESE swell with a moderate offshore WNW wind at 12 mph, energy at 290, and the waves are clean and surfable. Then Wednesday the 12th of August morning is a standout — 4ft S swell with a moderate offshore WSW wind at 16 mph, energy at 343, and offshore winds mean clean, lined-up waves. Thursday the 13th of August morning is also glassy with a 5ft SW swell, but the period is short at 6 seconds, so it’s a bit weak. After that, it fades into small, crummy surf through the middle of August.

Forster Beach is a beginner-friendly spot, fairly exposed to the swell, and the optimum direction is SE — the swell we get is mostly from S and SSE, so it’s not a perfect match, but it works. The best on offer is Monday the 3rd of August afternoon for glassy, clean 4ft surf, and Wednesday the 12th of August morning for clean 4ft with offshore winds. Crowds are often there, so expect company on the good days. The water temp is about average for the time of year.

Rusty.

Read more