Forster Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Forster Beach over the next couple of weeks.

The first few days are a bit of a mixed bag with some decent south swell, but the wind’s going to be the main character. The best surf in the first week really stacks up on Monday the 31st of August morning. The water temp is sitting about average for the time of year at 66°, nothing unusual there.

Thursday 27th August: South swell around 7ft at a short 9 seconds, but it’s a cross-shore wind from the south at 9 mph. It’s surfable but pretty average – there’s a slight cross-chop on it. Not the pick.

Friday 28th August – Morning standout: This is the one to get excited about. Glassy conditions with a light NNE breeze. The swell is still a solid 6ft from the south, but the period has bumped up to 12 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell. The combined energy is pumping at 1412 (moderate to strong), and with the glassy wind, Forster Beach will be clean and offering some nice lines. This is the best on offer early on. That afternoon the wind swings onshore, so get it in the morning.

Saturday 29th August: Swell drops a bit to 5ft–6ft from the SSE, period around 10 seconds. The wind is mostly cross or cross-off in the morning, but it gets a bit chunky by the arvo with a cross-shore breeze at 12 mph. Nothing special.

Sunday 30th August – Another morning gem: Glassy again early with a light SW breeze. Swell is smaller at 4ft from the south, 9-second period, but the energy is still there (327). It’ll be clean and fun for the beginners, but don’t expect power.

Monday 31st August – Morning highlight: This is a real beauty. Clean conditions with a cross-off SW breeze at 6 mph, swell at 5ft from the south, 9-second period, energy at 686 (moderate). Forster Beach will be rippable and tidy. The afternoon has a strange long-period 16-second swell from the SSE at only 3ft – that long period groundswell can get a bit straight at a beach break, but the morning session is the go.

Tuesday 1st September – Thursday 3rd September: The swell drops off hard. We go from 4ft down to 1ft by Thursday. Winds are mostly cross or cross-off, but there’s just not enough push. The energy falls to 76 by Thursday, so it’s pretty much flat and not worth paddling out.

Friday 4th September – Sunday 6th September: Still poor. Messy wind and small, weak swell from the NE. Energy stays below 150. No real hope here.

Monday 7th September – Long-range call: A big pulse arrives. The morning has 8ft from the SSW at 9 seconds, with a clean cross-off wind from the NW at 12 mph – 1190 energy (strong). That afternoon it jumps to 12ft from the SSW at 11 seconds, but the wind turns fresh offshore from the WSW at 22 mph. The problem is that 12ft is too big for Forster Beach – it’s a beginner spot, so this is expert-only territory. The energy is massive at 5042 (very strong). It’ll be a wild scene, but not for the average surfer.

Tuesday 8th September: Still big at 12ft in the morning from the SSE, clean cross-off wind, but again too big for this break (2435 energy). The afternoon drops to 8ft, more manageable, but cross-shore wind adds chop.

Wednesday 9th September – Thursday 10th September: Swell slowly fades from 6ft down to 2ft. Some rain about, and winds are mostly cross or onshore. Not worth it.

Friday 11th September – Final note: Glassy conditions again in the morning with a light SE breeze, a 3ft south swell, but the period is a massive 21 seconds – that’s very long-period groundswell, energy at 1055. At Forster Beach, a long-period south swell like that can wrap in but can also break a bit straight. It’ll be clean and glassy, so worth a look if you like a long wall, but don’t expect peaky barrels.

Crowds at Forster Beach are often around, so on the standout mornings (28th and 31st) expect some company. All in all, the Friday 28th August morning and Monday 31st August morning are the standouts. The big stuff from the 7th onwards is promising but only for the skilled crew.

Rusty.

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