Noosa - Johnsons Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, checking in on the Noosa coastline. We’ve got a solid run of surf coming, but it’s not all smooth sailing.

First up, we’re looking at Johnsons, a classic point break. The water temp is 68°, which is just a shade under normal for this time of year – nothing too crazy, just a little cooler than average.

The opening salvos on Sunday, August 16th, are a bit of a bust. There’s a 7ft SE swell, but the wind is stiff at 30 km/h from the SSE, making it a cross-off, and the wave comment is poor. The combined energy is moderate at 434, but it’s just not coming together for a paddle. Monday and Tuesday look a bit better in size, hanging around 7ft to 7ft from the ESE, but the wind is still cross-off and the surf is only marginal. Not the best start to the week.

Things start to clean up from Thursday, August 20th. The wind goes light offshore from the SSE, and we’ve got a 4ft SE swell with an 8-second period. The energy is moderate at 258, and the word is “expect good surf conditions.” This is the first real window of opportunity – clean, surfable waves. The trend continues into Friday, August 21st, with a 5ft ESE swell and light winds. The energy creeps up to 318, and it’s looking like a nice little run of clean, lined-up waves.

The standout for the whole period, though, is without a doubt Saturday, August 23rd. We get a 5ft SE swell, but the wind is a clean 20 km/h offshore from the SSE. That’s the kind of wind that makes Johnsons wrap in perfectly. The combined energy is moderate at 262, but the quality is where it’s at. This is the best on offer. The waves will be clean, with proper shape. It’s a point break, so the 8-second period is fine – it’ll groove along the points. Crowds are often here, so expect company, but the quality will be worth it.

After that, the swell drops off. Monday, August 24th, and Tuesday, August 25th, are small, with 2ft and 2ft waves. There’s a glassy moment on Tuesday morning, but it’s tiny. A long lull sets in from the 26th. The 26th has a weird 1.0ft swell with a 14-second period – that’s a very long period groundswell for a tiny wave, and it’s just not going to work. The 27th kicks up a 5ft windswell, but the wind is dirty and the period is a short 6 seconds. The last few days of the month are small and messy, with poor conditions. The 28th and 29th have some offshore wind, but the swell is weak and the period is short, so it’s a “surfable but ordinary” situation.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a slow burn, with Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st offering clean, fun waves. The absolute standout is Saturday the 23rd – that’s the one to circle on the calendar. After that, we’ve got a gap from the 24th through to the end of the month with mostly poor to ordinary surf. The energy just drops off a cliff.

Rusty.

Read more