Kawana Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Grim times ahead, folks. Let’s be straight with you. We’ve got a 16-day window and for the most part, the ocean’s not playing ball. The first real surf we see isn’t until Saturday the 22nd, so there’s a solid stretch of nothing before that. For a stretch that long with no good options, you’re looking at a pretty normal blank run for this setup.

Kawana Beach is the only spot on the map, and it’s a pretty exposed beachie. The water temp is sitting at 68°F, which is 2°F colder than average for this time of year – so a touch nippy, but nothing crazy.

Leading up to the weekend, it’s all cross-onshore junk. Sunday the 16th has a weak 6ft SE swell with a short 6-second period, but the 30 km/h SSE breeze is going to chop it up completely. It stays messy through the week. Monday the 17th bumps up to 7ft but it’s still onshore and poor. We see the energy pick up a bit – moderate range with a combined energy of 453 – but it’s all wasted with the wind. By Wednesday the 19th, the swell is 7ft but the period is still a short 7 seconds, and it’s cross-on. A score of 1 out of 10 says it all – marginal at best, and you’d be fighting for scraps.

Finally, on Saturday the 22nd of August, we get our first real chance. The wind goes glassy in the morning with a light WNW breeze. The swell drops to 3ft from the E, but the period is a weak 7 seconds. It's surfable, but very ordinary. The combined energy is a weak 125. This is the standout of the first week, but it's barely a blip. It’s a long paddle for a few closeouts.

Then we’re back into the doldrums. Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th are poor again with moderate onshore winds and the swell dropping. The long-range stuff starts to look more interesting. Tuesday the 25th has a glassy morning again with a tiny 3ft E swell, but it’s weak. Wednesday the 26th is clean but the wind is a fresh 35 km/h cross-off – not ideal for a beachie and it will be blown out.

The real promise, and I mean *promise* because it’s a long way out, is around the end of the month. On Saturday the 29th, we see a new NE swell push in at 5ft with a 6-second period. It’s cross-on in the morning with light winds, and the energy is moderate at 213. It’s marginal, but it’s something. Sunday the 30th holds a similar 5ft NE swell with similar conditions, but again, the period is short and it’s not going to be clean.

So, what’s the call? Saturday the 22nd is probably your best bet for a clean, small wave if you need a fix. But keep your expectations low. The surf is weak, the periods are short, and the winds are mostly working against us. It’s one of those times when you’re better off checking the kite forecast – a beach and reef setup with this much onshore junk and strong wind will likely have more action for the kite crew than the paddle crew.

Stay patient, and check back in a week to see if that late-month pulse gets its act together.

Rusty

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