Freshwater Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's on the table for Freshwater Bay.

6 ft of short-period, wind-affected swell from the East – that's not what we're after. That's the scene for Monday morning, and it's a write-off. The wind is a fresh cross-shore from the East at 22 mph, just making a mess of things. The wave energy is a weak 207. We're looking at a long stretch of pretty ordinary conditions. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing to get excited about.

Tuesday and Wednesday are much the same story – small, weak swells with onshore winds. The combined energy drops right down to 93 and even 5, so don't even bother paddling out. Thursday sees a bit of a lift with a 4 ft swell from the SW, but the wind is still cross-shore, and the energy is a weak 59. It's a "poor surf conditions" theme all the way.

Friday the 28th brings a glimmer of hope. The wind swings to a cross-offshore from the WSW, and the swell, though small at 3 ft, has a longer period of 9 seconds. The energy climbs to 124 (moderate), and the wave comment says "clean." This is a window, but the size is small, so it's a longboard or a fish. The swell direction is WSW, which is a bit off the optimum SW, but the clean conditions are a big plus.

Saturday the 29th is a no-go, with a stormy 5 ft of short-period swell and a fresh cross-shore wind making it choppy. Sunday the 30th is also a mess, with 5 ft of wind swell and a strong breeze from the WSW. The wave energy is up to 279 (moderate), but it's all chop.

The 31st of August is a bit of a wildcard. The swell is 7 ft from the SW, period is a short 6 seconds, but the wind is a strong cross-offshore from the West. The wave comment says "clean," and the energy is 359 (moderate). That's a lot of water moving, but with a period that short, it's going to be a bumpy, walled-up mess. This is expert territory; beginners should stay well clear.

The first week of September is a mixed bag. Tuesday the 1st is flat, Wednesday the 2nd brings a 6 ft wind swell from the SW with onshore wind, and the energy is 178 (moderate). Thursday the 3rd is similar, with 6 ft and a cross-onshore wind. The energy is up to 269 (moderate), but the conditions are poor.

The standout, and I mean the *only* real standout, is the 7th of September. Monday morning. The wind is a glassy offshore from the NW at just 3 mph. The swell is a small 2 ft, but it's a long-period groundswell from the SW at 16 seconds. The energy is 204 (moderate). The wave comment says "expect good surf conditions." This is a point-and-reef setup, and that long period will wrap in beautifully. The sets will be clean, the paddle out will be easy, and the crowd profile is "sometimes," so you might have some company. This is the one to wait for. The swell is small, so it's not for the big-wave hunters, but for the rest of us, it's as good as it gets. The water temperature is about average for the time of year.

The 8th of September looks like it's back to the wind and chop, with 8 ft of short-period wind swell and a cross-on breeze. The energy is 627 (strong), but the conditions are poor. That's a stormy mess.

Overall, there's a long gap of poor surf until the 28th of August, which offers a small, clean window. The real magic is on the 7th of September with that glassy, long-period groundswell. Everything else is a write-off.

- Rusty

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