Green Ball Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty.

Straight up, the next couple of weeks are going to test your patience. We’ve got a solid run of southwest groundswell on the cards, but the wind is just not playing the game for a good chunk of it. It’s a classic case of plenty of ocean energy getting messed up by a stiff cross-shore breeze. You’re gonna have to pick your moments, and even then, it’s all about managing expectations.

The window kicks off this Sunday the 16th. Out at Green Ball, we’ve got a clean 7ft SSW groundswell pushing through with a 16-second period. The energy reading is strong at 2350, so there’s plenty of push behind it. But the ESE breeze at 9 mph is creating a slight cross-chop, which will take the absolute shine off it. It’s surfable, but it’s not pretty. The morning is the only call on Sunday; the afternoon gets a bit more cross-on and starts to get chopped up.

Monday the 17th sees the swell drop slightly to 5ft, but the wind stays cross-shore. It’s more of the same, marginal stuff with a moderate cross-chop. Honestly, it’s a day to be doing something else unless you’re desperate.

We get a slight pulse mid-week, but the wind turns more cross-on. Tuesday the 18th has a strong 6ft SW swell, but the onshore component just ruins it. By Wednesday the 19th, we’re looking at 8ft of SW swell with an 18-second period – that’s a lot of water moving – but it’s crossed up and choppy. The energy is pumping at 3960, but it’s a washing machine. This is when it gets serious. Thursday the 20th pushes up to 10ft, but the conditions are just poor. If you’re an expert, you might find a sneaky one, but it’s really not for the faint-hearted. This is expert territory and even then, it’s not going to be fun. Honestly, with that onshore wind and that size, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

We get a bit of relief in the swell size on Friday the 21st, dropping to 6ft, but a fresh cross-shore breeze kicks in, making it lumpy and hard to read. Again, it’s a battle. The weekend of the 22nd and 23rd isn’t much better, with moderate cross-onshore winds and a lumpy, choppy ocean. The swell stays around the 7ft mark, but it’s not clean.

Now, here’s where you need to be patient. The run of swell is relentless, but the wind is the problem. It isn’t until the tail end of the period, around Thursday the 27th, that we start to see a glimmer of hope. The wind eases a touch, but it’s still cross-onshore. The energy is still solid, but it’s not clean.

Finally, the standout – and I mean the only real standout – is Saturday the 29th of August. The breeze finally eases right off to a light 6 mph ESE cross-onshore breeze. It’s not offshore, but it’s light enough to keep the surface reasonably tidy with just small wind ripples. The swell is a clean 5ft with a 14-second period from the SSW. The energy is moderate at 1668, but the extra-clean conditions will make it feel better than the numbers suggest. This is the morning to be out there. It won’t be epic, but it will be the most user-friendly conditions of the whole fortnight. Green Ball is a reef break, and with the light wind, you’ll actually be able to find a rhythm. It’s a late call, so it’s promising but less certain as a long-range standout, but it’s the one to circle on the calendar.

The last day of the month, Sunday the 30th, also looks like it could offer a similar window. The wind is set to be a gentle 9 mph and the swell is on the push again, around 6-7ft. The energy is strong, around 3032-3600. It won’t be as clean as Saturday, but it’s a backup if you miss the window. The period ends with a big 10ft pulse on Monday the 31st, but with a light cross-onshore wind. That’s a lot of water moving, and at 10ft, that is strictly for the experts. It’s a dangerous one.

So, that’s the run-down. Get out there Saturday the 29th and maybe Sunday the 30th if you’re keen. The rest is a grind. A lot of swell, but not a lot of quality. Keep it on your radar, but don’t force it.

Rusty.

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