Forster Beach (Nambucca) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at the surf ahead for our region.

Right now, the ocean is pretty quiet. Forster Beach (Nambucca) is a beginner-friendly, exposed beach break that picks up swell from the southeast. The water temperature is sitting at 67°, which is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual there.

The first real shot of surf comes on Wednesday morning, the 19th of August. We’ve got a clean 5ft swell from the ESE with a 10-second period. The wind is offshore from the WSW at 3 mph, so the surface will be smooth. The combined energy of all swells is moderate at 477. This is a nice little window of glassy, beginner-friendly waves.

Thursday morning, the 20th, drops to 4ft from the ESE, but the period shortens to 8 seconds and the wind turns cross-onshore from the NE at 3 mph. The wave energy drops to 200, making it only marginal. By Thursday afternoon, the wind cranks up to 16 mph from the NE, and the swell gets messy and choppy. Not worth paddling out.

Friday morning, the 21st, has a tiny 3ft from the NE with a 6-second period, but the wind is glassy calm. The energy is weak at 93. It’s surfable but very ordinary. Friday afternoon sees the wind jump back up to 12 mph, and the swell turns to chop.

From Saturday the 22nd through to Monday the 24th, we’re looking at a stretch of clean but tiny waves – mostly 2ft to 2ft with glassy conditions at times, but the energy is weak (39 to 109). It’s barely surfable. There’s a gap of a few days here where the surf is best left alone.

Tuesday the 25th brings a slight bump: 3ft from the NE, 8-second period, but the wind is cross-onshore from the NNE at 6 mph. The energy climbs to 264, but it’s still marginal. Wednesday and Thursday mornings the 26th and 27th offer small clean waves with glassy wind, but they’re small – 2ft to 3ft.

Now, here’s the standout. Sunday morning, the 30th of August, is a big one. We’ve got a 7ft swell from the S, with a very long 14-second period, and cross-offshore wind from the SSW at 9 mph. The combined energy is strong at 1891. This is for experienced surfers only – it’s clean, but the size is way over 8ft by the afternoon, hitting 10ft from the SSE with 18 seconds of period and a massive 5927 energy. That’s a serious, powerful groundswell. Forster Beach is exposed, so this will be a heavy, expert-only session. The long period means it’ll be breaking straight at the beach, but it’s still the best on offer.

Monday the 31st of August has a cleaner, more manageable 6ft from the SSE, 13 seconds, with light offshore wind from the SW at 6 mph. Energy is strong at 1279. This is excellent for experienced surfers, but the afternoon turns cross-onshore.

Tuesday morning the 1st of September is a nice 5ft from the SSE, 11 seconds, with light cross-offshore wind. Expect good, clean waves. Wednesday morning the 2nd of September is glassy with 3ft from the SSE.

Overall, the best bet is Sunday the 30th for the big, clean south swell if you’re experienced, and Monday the 31st for a slightly smaller but still solid session. The rest of the period is small or messy.

Rusty.

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