Johanna Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run ahead at Johanna. The 16-day window kicks off straight away with a big, powerful southwest groundswell that’s hanging around for a while, but the wind is going to be the main character. This is a long, exposed beach and point setup that will cop whatever swell is thrown at it, so you’ve got to pick your moments. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is right about average for late August, so nothing unusual there.

Alright, let’s jump in. Friday morning the 28th sees a 12 ft swell from the WSW with a long 17-second period, packing some serious energy. The wind is cross from the west at 9 mph, so it’s a bit bumpy but still rideable. It’s more of a “get out there if you have to” situation. By Friday afternoon, the wind swings straight onshore from the SW, and it’s only 6 mph but that’s enough to mess it up. Saturday and Sunday are messy – cross-onshore winds and the swell stays around 8-10 ft, but the period drops, and the energy is solid but the chop is the story.

Monday the 31st is the first real bright spot. Morning sees a 10 ft SW swell, 15-second period, and WNW winds at 6 mph creating light cross-shore conditions. The water is clean with just small ripples. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best of the first few days. The energy is strong. The afternoon stays similar.

Tuesday morning the 1st of September is a standout for the first week. We’ve got a 10 ft SW swell, 16-second period, and a fresh 19 mph NNW breeze that’s cross-offshore – clean face. This is the kind of morning where Johanna shows its teeth. The energy is solid, but the wind is strong, so you’ll want a board that handles the chop on the face. This is an intermediate-level day – 10 ft is pushing it for beginners.

Now, the real meat comes Thursday the 3rd. Thursday afternoon, we’ve got a 16 ft WSW swell with a 13-second period and fresh 16 mph NW cross-offshore wind. The energy is pumping. This is big, powerful, and clean. Only for experienced surfers – 16 ft is well into expert territory. If you’ve got the skills, this is the best wave of the first ten days.

Friday the 4th goes nuts. Morning is a write-off – 20 ft swell, 19 mph cross-onshore wind, lumpy and chaotic. But Friday afternoon, look out. 21 ft WSW swell, 15-second period, 19 mph cross wind – the energy is enormous. This is too big for Johanna, even for experts. The setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Step back.

Things settle down a bit over the following days. Saturday the 5th morning is still big at 15 ft SW, but with clean cross-offshore NW winds at 19 mph. It’s a session for the brave. The energy is huge. Sunday the 6th gets onshore again.

The next true standout is Monday morning the 7th of September. We’ve got a 8 ft SW swell, 11-second period, and glassy conditions – S wind at a mere 3 mph. The energy is moderate, but the lack of wind makes this a gem. It’s smaller, clean, and perfect for intermediate surfers. A real hidden gem after the chaos. The water is dead flat glass.

The final cracker is Friday the 11th of September – morning. A massive 8 ft WSW swell but with a very long 19-second period pushing energy through the roof. The wind is cross-offshore from the NNW at 16 mph, clean. This is a groundswell of the highest order, and it’s best on the point section where the longer lines will hold up. Not the biggest, but the quality of the wave shape will be exceptional. Saturday the 12th keeps the energy high with 15 ft swell and 16-17 second periods, but the wind turns cross-shore, so it’s a bit more lined up but not as clean.

Overall, the best on offer is Thursday afternoon the 3rd of September for the experienced crew, and Monday morning the 7th of September for the intermediate surfer wanting clean, fun waves. The long-range Friday the 11th is a promising session for the connoisseur. Don’t bother with the 4th or 5th unless you’re towing in. Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

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