Halfway Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get stuck into the outlook for Halfway.

We’ve got a solid run of surf coming through, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The good news is there’s plenty of swell on the way, but it’s going to take a keen eye to pick the right session. The wave energy is up there, with a combined energy reading of 3575 kicking things off, so there’s serious power in the water.

The standout window is Wednesday morning, August 19th. The water temp is sitting at 79°, which is pretty much bang on average for the time of year, so no surprises there. You’re looking at a clean 8ft swell from the SSW with a long period of 18 seconds. That’s classic groundswell, and it’s pushing serious energy. The wind is a cross-off from the SE at 9 mph, so the faces will be clean. This is expert territory though – anything over 8ft in the afternoon is pushing it, but the morning holds that sweet spot. That long period will make the sets a bit more spaced out, but the shape will be there for the experienced crew.

After that, the surf stays on the menu, but it gets a bit of a rough edge. From Thursday, August 20th, through to Tuesday, August 26th, the swell hangs around the 5ft to 8ft mark, but the wind stays a bit of a cross-off or cross-shore, mostly in the 12-16 mph range. The energy drops a bit too, sliding from the 3000s down to the 800s by the 26th. It’s still surfable, but you’ll be working for your waves. The period stays solid through the 20th, but the wind is a constant factor, so it’s not the glassy perfection we saw on the 19th.

There’s a noticeable gap in quality from the 26th into the 27th, where the swell drops to under 3ft, and the energy drops to 639. It’s a bit of a lull.

Then, things start to pick up again. Thursday afternoon, August 27th, sees a pulse of 3ft swell from the SSW with a very long period of 19 seconds. The energy jumps back up to 1282, and the wind is light at 9 mph. It’s clean, but that period is so long it’s going to be a bit tricky at the beach. Still, a good session for the patient surfer.

The real second week highlight is shaping up for Monday, August 31st, into Tuesday, September 1st. The energy is cranking again, with readings of 3981 and 3839. You’re looking at 6ft to 8ft swells from the SW, with periods of 18 to 20 seconds. The wind is a cross-off, so it’s clean. This is powerful, long-period groundswell. It’s a big call this far out, and it’s not quite as clean as the August 19th window, but it’s a promising one for the experienced crew. The crowds might be a factor here, as it’s a fairly consistent spot, so don’t expect to have it to yourself.

Wednesday, September 2nd, is worth a mention for the afternoon. The swell is 6ft from the SW, but the wind shifts to a light offshore from the ESE at 9 mph – that’s the cleanest wind we’ll see in the second week. The energy is solid at 1739. This is a good one for the intermediate surfer to step up.

Overall, the best of the best is that Wednesday morning, August 19th. It’s the most complete package: solid size, clean cross-off, and that long-period power. The second week has some heavy hitters, but they’re a bit more raw and less certain. Keep your eyes on the 31st and 1st for a big, powerful swell, but be ready for the crowd.

Rusty.

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