Gunnamatta Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the coming weeks. We’re talking about Gunnamatta Beach, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The water temperature is sitting at 57°, which is pretty much average for the time of year, nothing wild there.

The first few days are a write-off, if I’m being honest. Monday and Tuesday are a mess with strong cross and onshore winds, lumpy seas, and the swell is just a confused, choppy affair. The combined energy is high, but it’s all for nothing with the wind. You’d be mad to paddle out Monday arvo – 7ft of lumpy WSW swell with fresh cross-onshore wind, just ugly. Tuesday arvo even sees a 10ft SW swell but with strong onshore winds that make it a total no-go. Wednesday and Thursday are similar – poor conditions with rain and onshore winds. There’s a solid 5ft SW groundswell on Friday morning, but it’s cross-on and marginal. Honestly, the first week is a brutal slog.

Then, out of nowhere, Friday afternoon on the 7th of August looks like a little gem. The wind swings to a light offshore from the NE, and you’ve got a clean 5ft SW swell with a long 15-second period. The combined energy is solid (1627), and the description says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That’s your window. It’s a bit of a standout, but it’s a short-lived one.

Saturday the 8th stays clean with offshore cross-off winds, but the swell is the same 5ft, and the wind is a fresh 30 km/h from the north, which is a bit of a howler. It’s surfable, but not the same quality as Friday arvo. Sunday the 9th is a no-go with near-gale winds, despite the swell being around.

Now, the second week gets a bit wild. Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th see a massive jump in size – we’re talking 16ft of SW swell with combined energy hitting 12,000+. That’s way too big for Gunnamatta, even for experts. The wind is cross or cross-on, but the swell is just too much. It’s a “too big” warning. This continues into the middle of the week with 12ft to 13ft swells. It’s a real beast, but not for surfing.

The real standout for the second week is Saturday the 15th of August. The morning has a clean 7ft SW swell with a 16-second period, and a light offshore breeze from the NNW. The combined energy is 2587, and it’s marked as “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That’s your best bet for a proper session. The afternoon is still okay, but the wind goes light cross-on, so it’s a bit less clean.

So, to sum it up: the first week is mostly a dud, with a brief window Friday afternoon the 7th. The second week is dominated by a massive, dangerous swell, but the real prize is the morning of Saturday the 15th. Keep an eye on that one.

Rusty.

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