Forster Beach (Nambucca) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty. The outlook for Forster Beach (Nambucca) is a slow burner for the first week, but the second week is loaded with size and power. The first few days aren’t worth your time.

Let’s start with this Wednesday afternoon, August 5th. There’s a tiny 2ft easterly swell with a short period, and the energy is weak. The NE wind is onshore, so it’s not doing the surf any favours. It’s a write-off.

Thursday the 6th is cleaner but smaller. The morning has a bit of a 1.0ft SSE swell with a long period, but it’s just too small. The afternoon is worse with a cross-onshore breeze. Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th are similar – small, clean, glassy mornings with waves around 2ft. The energy is moderate. It’s surfable, but not worth the drive.

Sunday the 9th gets a bit lumpy. The swell pushes up to 4ft from the ENE, but the wind is a problem. By the afternoon, it’s a fresh NNE breeze, making it messy. The energy is picking up, but the quality isn’t there.

Then we get a window. Monday morning, August 10th, is a standout. The wind swings to the west, going offshore, and the swell is a solid 6ft from the NE. The period is short, but the energy is strong. The report says “expect good surf conditions,” and with a clean, gentle offshore breeze, this is the best of the first week. It’s a bit much for beginners. The afternoon drops off, so the morning is the call.

Tuesday the 11th has a glassy morning, but the swell is back down to 2ft. The afternoon sees a spike in energy from a 2ft southerly groundswell with a very long period, but it’s onshore and messy. That long period groundswell won’t love this beach break setup.

Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th are clean and small, with offshore or cross-off breezes. Waves stay around 2ft to 3ft. It’s okay for a longboard.

Now, the second week gets serious. Friday, August 14th, brings a big jump. The morning shows a 7ft S swell with a long period, and the energy is enormous. That’s a serious amount of power. The wind is cross-off, and with that size, it’s going to be big and heavy. This is for experienced surfers only. The afternoon is still big at 5ft, but the wind gets messy.

Saturday the 15th is still solid, with a 5ft S swell and clean conditions in the morning. The afternoon gets rain and a lumpy cross-shore wind.

The surf drops off on Sunday the 16th and Monday the 17th, but Monday morning still has a 5ft S swell with clean cross-off wind. It’s surfable, but the period is short.

Then we get the real pearl. Tuesday, August 18th, is the absolute standout of the entire 16-day window. The morning is looking at an 8ft S swell with a very long period. The energy is off the charts. The wind is a light offshore from the SW, and the report says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is a big, powerful groundswell. Forster Beach is an exposed beach break, so this long-period swell might break a bit straight, but with that much energy and a clean offshore wind, it’s going to be pumping. It’s not for the faint-hearted, and it’s likely to be crowded. The next morning, Wednesday the 19th, is almost as good, with a 8ft SSE swell, glassy conditions, and the same excellent rating. Thursday the 20th is also excellent in the morning, with a 7ft SSE swell and glassy conditions.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a write-off apart from Monday the 10th. The real action kicks off in the second week, with Friday the 14th to Tuesday the 18th offering the biggest and best windows. The absolute best day is Tuesday, August 18th, with a massive, clean, offshore swell. It’s a long way out, so the forecast could shift, but right now, that’s the one.

The water temperature is sitting right around average for this time of year at 68°.

Rusty

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