Fourth Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

The good news is that we've got a lot of swell on the way, but it's a bit of a mixed bag with the wind. We're looking at a run of solid, clean conditions starting this Sunday, with a couple of really choice windows later on. The water temp is sitting at 62°F which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no need to dig out the thickest wetsuit just yet.

The standout for the whole period is undeniably Sunday afternoon, the 30th of August. We've got a solid 8ft SSW groundswell, with a long period of 18 seconds, pumping in. The wind is a gentle 9 mph cross-offshore from the ENE, which is going to leave those lines looking clean and tidy. The combined energy is massive at 4271, and the conditions are dialed for experienced surfers. This is the one to circle on the calendar. Get out there.

Monday morning, the 31st, is still worth a look. The swell is dropping a touch to 7ft from the SSW, but the wind is a clean 16 mph cross-off from the NNW. The energy is still strong (1904), but it's a bit more marginal on the tide. By Monday afternoon, forget it – the wind swings onshore and it turns into a mess.

We get a bit of a break on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the swell holding at 8ft but the wind is cross or light cross-onshore, making for a choppy surface. The energy is there, but the quality just isn't. It's a bit of a waiting game.

Then we've got a real wildcard. Saturday afternoon, the 5th of September, the swell is predicted to be a massive 16ft. The wind is a strong 28 mph cross-off, so it'll be clean. The energy reading is a staggering 8067. But honestly, this is one for the absolute experts only, and even then, it might be more of a tow-in or kite-surfing kind of day. For most of us, it's too big.

The next real standout comes out of the blue. Wednesday afternoon, the 9th of September. The swell is a much more manageable 5ft from the SSW, but look at that period: 26 seconds! That's a very long-period groundswell. The wind is glassy, and the energy is a solid 4200. This is a sneaky good day for a spot like Fourth Beach if the tide is right, as the long period could wrap in nicely. For experienced surfers, this is a gem.

After that, things get messy again with a big blow on the 10th, before we see a return to clean conditions on Saturday the 12th of September. The morning has a 7ft SSW swell with a nice 12 mph offshore breeze from the NNE, and the afternoon goes glassy with a 7ft swell. The energy is moderate (1764/1344), but the offshore wind makes it clean. That's a solid weekend session.

Finally, the 13th of September brings a large, long-period swell (4ft at 23 seconds) but it has a light onshore element, so it's a bit of a question mark.

Overall, the best of the best is Sunday afternoon, August 30th, with a clear second look at Wednesday afternoon, September 9th. Don't sleep on the Saturday the 12th either.

Rusty

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