Indicator Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – this forecast is a bit of a slow burner. We’ve got a lot of small, weak swell and tricky wind for the first week and a half. The real standout is a pulse of stronger energy arriving on Sunday the 20th, but it’s a long way off. Don’t get too excited about the early days; there’s nothing worth paddling out for.

We start with nothing. The first few days are all poor surf, with tiny swell around 1ft to 1ft and mostly cross-onshore winds. The energy is weak, with combined energy readings under 100. It’s not worth a second look.

By Thursday the 10th morning, we get a bit of a reprieve – a light offshore breeze from the SSE, but the swell is only 2ft from the west with a short period of 6 seconds. It’s clean, but the wave energy is barely there (22). It’s still a no-go.

Friday the 11th morning is similar: a gentle offshore from the SE, 2ft west swell, but the period is still short (6 seconds) and the energy is low (23). The afternoon improves a little with a 2ft, 15-second groundswell from SW, and combined energy of 210. It’s surfable, but very ordinary.

Saturday the 12th morning brings a 2ft, 14-second SW swell with a clean offshore SE breeze. Energy is moderate (165). It’s a small, clean wave – something for a longboard, maybe. But nothing to write home about.

Then we hit a rough patch. From Saturday the 12th afternoon right through to Thursday the 17th morning, it’s mostly poor conditions with small swell and cross-onshore or cross-off winds. The only exception is a clean, glassy morning on the 17th with a 1ft, 21-second groundswell from the SW. That’s a very long period, and the energy is moderate (161), but the wave height is tiny. For a reef and point break like this one, that long period might actually wrap in cleanly, but you’ll be waiting for sets.

The real standout arrives on Sunday the 20th morning. We’ve got a 6ft swell from the WNW with a short period of 7 seconds. The combined energy hits 940 – that’s strong wave energy. It’s a legitimate size, and the wind is a light cross-off from the SSE, making for clean conditions. This is the best on offer, but it’s a bit of a beast. At 6ft, it’s getting into intermediate territory, but the short period (7 seconds) means it’ll be a bit crumbly and less powerful. For a reef and point setup, it could still be fun if you pick your spot. The morning is the time to go – the afternoon turns cross-onshore and blows it out.

After that, Monday the 21st morning has a 3ft, 17-second SW groundswell with a light cross-shore wind. The energy is moderate (447). It’s clean, but not as good as Sunday. Tuesday the 22nd morning is a beauty – glassy conditions with a 2ft, 16-second SW swell. The combined energy is 286. It’s small, but glassy and clean. For a longboard or a sensitive reef, that’s a treat.

The forecast confidence is good for the near-term, but the Sunday the 20th standout is a long-range call – it looks promising, but keep an eye on the wind as we get closer.

The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Check the Sunday the 20th morning for the best chance of some proper waves – the rest is mostly a wait-and-see game.

Rusty.

Read more