Gallows Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Gallows.

This is going to be a long, drawn-out story. We’ve got very little to get excited about for the first week and a half, with only small, weak, and mostly ordinary conditions. The real interest, and I mean the *only* real interest, comes right at the very tail end of the forecast, over a week away.

We kick off Wednesday the 19th with a 5ft swell from the ESE at 10 seconds, but that cross-on breeze from the ESE at 3 mph is putting a bit of a crinkle on it. The wave energy is moderate (394). The water is sitting at 68°, pretty much average for this time of year. Honestly, it's not worth paddling out for.

Thursday the 20th through to the end of August is a real dry spell. The swell drops right off. Thursday morning shows a 4ft ESE swell, but the period is a weak 7 seconds. The wind is better – light cross-off from the N at 6 mph – but the energy is weak (196). It’s surfable but very ordinary. It only gets smaller from there, with a lot of days showing energy levels well under 100. We get a few glassy moments, like Saturday the 22nd morning, but with a 2ft swell, there’s just nothing to ride. There's a solid 10-day stretch here where the surf is poor to non-existent.

Now, hold onto your board. The first of September is where it gets interesting, but also dangerous. On Tuesday the 1st, a big SSE groundswell shows up. The morning is a massive 8ft at 14 seconds, with *very strong* wave energy (2845). The wind is a light cross-shore, so it’s not all messy. This is expert territory, and Gallows is a reef and point break, which is good, but 8ft is pushing it for even advanced surfers.

The real standout, and the only true highlight in this whole 16-day stretch, is on Wednesday the 2nd of September. We get a slightly smaller but still solid 7ft swell from the SSE with a 12-second period. The kicker is the cross-off wind from the NNE at 6 mph, which should keep the faces clean. The energy is still very strong (1520). This is the best chance for experienced surfers to get a few. But keep in mind, 7ft is still big for this spot, so don’t be a hero if you’re not ready for it. The crowds here can be an issue, so get in early.

The rest of that first week of September stays big and messy, with onshore winds and high energy from an 8ft SE swell on the 3rd. It’s too big and wonky for most.

So, the takeaway? Do nothing for the next ten days. Mark your calendar for the 2nd of September. That Wednesday afternoon is the one and only window for some serious, clean reef and point action at Gallows, but only if you've got the skills.

Rusty.

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