Jarosite Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, crew, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what old man ocean has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. We’ve got one spot on the radar, and it’s got some serious potential if you know what you’re doing. We’re looking at Jarosite Reef, a heavy, expert-only wave that demands respect. It’s exposed to the southwest swell, and it likes it from that direction. The water is about what you’d expect for this time of year, no weird anomalies to talk about.

For the next few days, the surf is going to be pretty hit-or-miss. We’ve got some chest to head-high swell moving through, and it’s roasting out of the southwest with a mix of groundswell energy. The wind is mostly sideshore or a light cross-off, which will keep things reasonably clean. The energy is moderate, with readings around 476 to 768. It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about. The swell period is a solid 12 seconds, so there’s some push behind it. As we get into Wednesday, the swell jumps a bit and the period stretches out to 14 seconds, which adds some power. The energy gets more serious, hitting 1721 on Wednesday morning. It’ll be a bit inconsistent, and the conditions might not be perfect, but there are waves to be had if you’re keen. Thursday sees a drop-off in size with some long-period 16-second swell, but the energy falls away to a weak 213. This is where it gets a bit slow. The morning looks clean with a light offshore wind, but the afternoon gets a bit cross-y. It’s a bit of a lull, to be honest. Friday is similar, a bit small but with some clean morning conditions and a light breeze. Energy is moderate at 524.

Now, check this out. The first big standout window looks like it’s coming up on the 10th of August. There’s a rapid change in the forecast. We start the day with a solid 7ft of SW swell, but by the afternoon, the bottom drops out and the ocean just lights up. We’re talking a massive 16ft of WSW swell, ramping up with a 16-second period. The energy reading is a staggering 15973, which is just insane. The wind is offshore and favorable, creating what the models call a “moderate offshore and clean” setup. The only problem, and it’s a big one, is the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. It's a freight train. This is a day for the true chargers, and even then, it might be beyond the limit. It’s not a beginner’s day and it’s probably only for experts. That’s the one to circle on your calendar. It’s a monster.

After that pulse, it backs down to a still-chunky 6ft to 8ft for the next couple of days. The period stays long at 15-16 seconds. Wednesday the 12th is looking like a highlight, with a solid 8ft of SW swell and clean conditions in the morning, and an energy reading of 2935. The winds are light and offshore. It’s going to be powerful and lined-up, perfect for a high-performance reef like this. That morning is going to be the pick of that stretch.

Then, hold on to your boardshorts. The next Monday, the 13th of August, brings another massive pulse. We’re looking at an 12ft SSW groundswell with a long 16-second period. The energy is huge, with readings around 7178 in the morning, and the winds are light and offshore. The report says “exceptional surf conditions for expert surfers.” This is another serious swell event. This is the second standout. It’s big and it’s perfect. The period is so long, it might be breaking a bit too straight on a reef, but that’s a small caveat for a day like this. It’s going to be glorious and terrifying.

From there, the swell slowly backs off into the second week. Friday the 14th still has a solid 6ft of SSW swell and good clean morning conditions. By the weekend, we’re back to the 4ft to 4ft range, but with an almost dead calm wind and even a glassy period on Saturday afternoon. It’ll be clean, but smaller and less powerful. The following week looks a bit patchy, with a couple of average days and some weaker, shorter-period swell moving in. The long-range stuff looks promising but less certain.

So, to sum it up: there’s a fun but not spectacular start, then two massive, significant swell events on the 10th and the 13th of August. Those are the standouts. The 13th is likely the best on offer, all things considered. For anyone else, the surf will get good again towards the end of the week and into the weekend, but you gotta be patient.

Stay salty.

Rusty

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