Fourth Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s talk about Fourth Beach. This stretch gets a decent SSW pulse over the next couple of weeks, but it’s not a simple call – there’s a lot of size and wind to work through, and some of it will be too much.

The real action kicks off Sunday afternoon the 30th of August with a solid 8ft SSW groundswell humming in at 18 seconds. That’s a long-period, high-energy beast – combined energy reads 4121 (moderate to strong). The issue? It arrives with a cross-shore breeze from the east at 9 mph, which puts a little chop on the surface. It’s marginal, and honestly, this break is exposed to the SW, so the direction is okay, but not perfect. Water temp sits at 62°, which is about average for this time of year.

Monday the 31st of August morning looks cleaner with a 7ft SSW swell and a cross-off breeze from the NNW at 16 mph. That’s promising – period is 16 seconds, combined energy 1904. The afternoon turns onshore and messy. Tuesday the 1st of September has more 8ft SSW swell, but the wind is cross or cross-on, keeping the surface lumpy. Nothing special.

Wednesday the 2nd of September offers a light cross-shore breeze in the afternoon at 6 mph, with 8ft SSW swell at 13 seconds – combined energy 2084. Better shape, but still not glassy.

Now here’s a standout: Thursday the 3rd of September afternoon. The wind goes glassy – 3 mph from the WSW, zero chop. Swell is 10ft from the SSW, 14-second period, combined energy 3484. Conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers, and that’s the call – 10ft is big, not for beginners. The direction is a touch west of the optimum SSW, but the glassy surface makes it the best on offer this window.

Friday the 4th of September is a write-off – 34 mph winds and 13ft swell, pure mess. Saturday the 5th of September morning brings a clean, moderate offshore from the north at 12 mph, with 8ft SSW swell at 14 seconds – combined energy 2968. That’s a good morning, but still a step below the Thursday glass-off.

Sunday the 6th of September and Monday the 7th see more strong onshore winds and blown-out conditions. Monday afternoon the 7th has an 12ft SSW swell at 17 seconds but with a cross-onshore breeze – too big and messy.

Tuesday the 8th of September morning is clean with a light cross-off from the WNW at 6 mph, but the swell is 13ft at 18 seconds – combined energy 10507 – that’s very strong and only for experts, if anyone. The break might be too big for even experienced surfers at that size.

Wednesday the 9th of September morning is another clean one – light cross-off from the NW at 3 mph, 10ft SSW at 16 seconds, combined energy 4967. Excellent for experienced surfers, but again, solid size.

The second week has a few clean windows but mostly the swell stays over 8ft, making it expert territory. Thursday the 10th of September afternoon has a moderate offshore from the NNE at 12 mph, 10ft SSW at 16 seconds – glassy, good shape. Friday the 11th of September drops down to 5ft but with a fresh cross-shore wind – not great.

There’s a gap of poor conditions from the 11th afternoon through the 12th, then Sunday the 13th of September morning has clean cross-off wind and 12ft SSW swell at 14 seconds – again, big and clean but only for the brave. Monday the 14th returns to strong onshore winds and messy surf.

Overall, the standout is Thursday the 3rd of September afternoon – glassy, 10ft, and clean. Second pick would be Saturday the 5th of September morning with that clean offshore breeze.

This is a stretch that breaks consistently, so when the wind plays nice, it delivers. Crowds are only sometimes an issue, but with these sizes, it’ll be the experienced crew out there.

Stay safe out there.

\- Rusty

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