Higgins Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Higgins Beach. It’s a bit of a tough one, and I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – we’re looking at a long stretch of pretty ordinary conditions right through the next couple of weeks. For the first 13 days, from the 8th of August through to the 21st of August, the surf is just not playing ball. It’s consistently poor, with tiny waves, weak energy, and the winds are all over the shop. Honestly, it’s a real bummer.

We’re talking swell heights that barely get above 1.0 ft, with combined energy readings that sit in the single digits or low teens (16, 15, 20) for most of that first week. That’s about as weak as it gets. The exception is a spike on the 15th of August afternoon, where the southerly swell jumps up to 6 ft, but the cross-onshore wind at 12 mph makes it a choppy mess. The energy there hits 250 (moderate), but the wind just ruins it. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session.

The best of a bad bunch – and I use that term loosely – might be the 12th of August and the 14th of August mornings. You’ll get some glassy conditions with a 0.3 ft swell, but the energy is virtually nothing (7). It’s flat, clean, but flat. Then on the 18th of August, Tuesday morning, we have glassy conditions with a 1.0 ft south-east swell, period at 10 seconds, and combined energy of 28. It’s small, clean, and maybe you could get a fun little knee-high wave if you’re desperate.

The real standout, if you can call it that, is a few days out. On the 23rd of August, Sunday morning, we see a 4 ft south-east swell with a 12-second period and a combined energy of 434 (strong). The wind is a gentle cross-shore from the SSW at 9 mph, which is messy enough to keep it from being perfect, but it’s the biggest, most powerful swell on the whole forecast. The score is a 1 out of 10, which is still marginal, but it’s the only window where the ocean actually has some life. The water temperature is about average for this time of year. Just keep in mind, 4 ft is fine for most of us, but it won’t be one for the beginners.

The crowds at Higgins Beach are often there, so if you do get a clean session, you’ll have company. The optimum swell direction is from the SE, and that’s exactly what we’re getting on that 23rd, so at least it’s hitting the break right. For the rest of the window, it’s a waiting game. The surf will come back, it always does, but for now, keep your wax in the shade.

Rusty.

Read more