Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, folks, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks. I’m gonna be straight with you – this is a tough one. The outlook is a real struggle, and for the entire 16-day window, I can’t point you to any genuinely good surf. There’s just nothing worth paddling out for.

We’re looking at a long, dry spell. The first hint of a rideable wave comes right at the start, but it’s a false dawn. The best we can say is that the water temp is sitting at a comfortable 72°, which is about a degree and a half warmer than usual for this time of year, so at least a dip won’t be a shock to the system. But don’t get your hopes up.

Let’s run through the dates. Thursday, September 3rd, is a no-go. The Jetty is seeing a tiny 2 ft swell from the SE, but it’s a weak, messy 9-second period, and a cross-shore wind is making it a lumpy, choppy mess. The combined energy is a feeble 73. It’s flat and ugly.

Friday the 4th is even worse. The swell drops to 1 ft, and while the wind goes light offshore on the morning, the swell is just too small and weak to do anything with. A total washout.

Saturday the 5th has a clean offshore wind, but we’re down to 1.0 ft of swell. You could paddle about on a log, but there’s no wave to ride. The energy is a pathetic 22.

Sunday the 6th sees a bit of a bump. The swell nudges up to 3 ft, but it’s from the ENE with a dreadful 6-second period. The energy jumps to 106, but it’s just wind-chop. The morning is a cross-offshore mess, but the afternoon goes glassy... still, the swell is too short and weak to hold any shape.

Monday the 7th is the closest we get to a surfable wave. The morning has a 2 ft, 11-second swell from the E with a light offshore wind. The energy is 62. The file calls it “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s a long-period groundswell, which at a breakwater spot like the Jetty might offer a slow, peeling wall, but it’s barely knee-high. It’s not worth the drive.

After that, it’s a complete desert. From Tuesday the 8th right through to Friday the 18th of September, every single session is rated as “poor surf conditions.” The swell never gets above 3 ft, and when it does push a little, the wind is either howling onshore or making it a frothy, lumpy mess. Look at Thursday the 10th – the swell jumps to 6 ft from the SSW with a 7-second period and a fresh cross-shore wind. The energy is a massive 518, but it’s just a raw, powerful, onshore wind-swell. That’s not a surf day; that’s a day for the kite surfers.

The wind is the main villain here. For most of the second week, we’ve got relentless strong winds from the SW, SSW, and W, blowing straight on or cross-onshore, churning up the surface. The Jetty is exposed, and it’s just taking a beating. There’s not a single standout session in the entire 16 days.

So, what’s the verdict? Put the boards away for a bit. This is a blank run, and it’s a pretty normal occurrence for this area when the winds set in like this. The forecasts can change, but right now, there’s simply no reason to get wet. The water is warm, but the waves are not.

Rusty.

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