In Betweens Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. Rusty here.

We’re looking at a tough start for In Betweens, a reef break that’s usually pretty consistent but right now it’s a waiting game. The first few days are a write-off. The swell’s small, the wind’s howling cross-off, and the energy’s just not there. Tuesday the 18th sees a 2ft S swell with a 13-second period, but with 16 mph cross-off winds, the surface is clean but the surf is poor. The wave energy is moderate at 480. Water temp is 81°, which is about average for this time of year. Wednesday and Thursday mornings stay small, with Thursday the 20th offering the first real glimpse of hope: a 2ft SSW groundswell with a long 18-second period and light 6 mph cross-off winds. This is a clean, glassy morning with moderate energy (279). The long period means the reef will shape the waves nicely, but the size is tiny—better for a longboard than a serious session. Friday the 21st goes a bit lumpy with cross-on winds.

Then it gets ugly. From Saturday the 22nd through to the end of August, the wind cranks up—fresh to strong breeze from the ENE, blowing 19 to 28 mph, and while it stays cross-off, the swell jumps up. By Sunday the 23rd, we’ve got a 7ft ENE windswell with a short 7-second period and energy at 776. This is all chop and closeouts, nothing you’d want to paddle into. It stays like that for days—big, messy, and blown out. The energy peaks at 884 on Monday the 24th, then hits 1077 on Tuesday the 25th—strong energy, but with a short period and those winds, it’s a kite-surfing setup, not a paddle-surfing one.

We finally see a shift around Thursday the 27th of August. The swell drops a bit to 5ft but the period is still short and the wind is still a fresh breeze. Not good. Then on the 30th of August, a Sunday, we get an 12ft E swell with a 9-second period and a massive energy reading of 1819. That’s very strong wave energy. This is big—only for experts. The wind is still cross-off at 22 mph, so it’ll be clean but heavy. Monday the 31st stays big at 10ft.

The true standout? It comes on Tuesday, 1st September. The swell drops to a more manageable 8ft from the east, period still short at 8 seconds, but the wind swings to a gentle 9 mph cross-off. The energy is huge at 2044 in the morning, and by the afternoon the wind goes gentle cross-off with 7ft east swell and energy at 1168. This is described as excellent for experienced surfers. It’s the best window in the whole outlook. The wave energy is very strong, but with those lighter winds, the reef should hold.

The next day, Wednesday the 2nd of September, is also a gem for the experienced crew. A 6ft SSW groundswell with an 11-second period, but the wind goes glassy in the afternoon—a 3 mph south wind, dead calm. That’s a rare treat. Energy is 1263. If you can handle the size, the conditions will be pristine.

Overall, the first week is a bust. The second week has some huge, windy swell for experts only, and the very best conditions are on September 1st and 2nd. Crowds at In Betweens can be an issue sometimes, so keep that in mind if you’re heading out for that September window. If you’re a beginner, steer clear until after the 2nd.

Rusty.

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