Kirra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next fortnight and a bit at Kirra is a tough watch. We’ve got a big gap upfront with no real surf to speak of, and then a long stretch of mediocrity. The only flicker of something worthwhile is a long way off, and even then, it’s not a slam dunk. Here’s the breakdown.

The first few days are a write-off. Sunday 16 August through to Tuesday 18 August, the swell is there – 6ft to 7ft – but the wind is all wrong. It’s blowing cross-off or cross-on, and the period is short, around 7-8 seconds. The energy is moderate (combined energy values of 374 to 596), but the conditions are just ordinary. You’ll see waves, but they’ll be messy and blown out. Not worth paddling out.

Wednesday 19 August brings a spike in energy – the combined energy hits 1351 (strong), with a long period swell of 11 seconds from the ESE and 6ft sets. That’s a groundswell. But the wind is cross-off from the SSE, and the forecast calls it marginal, with questionable tide conditions. That’s a lot of energy for a tricky setup. It could be a good session if you time the tide right, but it’s a gamble.

Thursday 20 August and Friday 21 August see lighter winds, including a glassy moment Friday morning with 5ft from the east and 8 seconds. The energy is moderate (330 to 318). The surf is surfable, but very ordinary. Friday afternoon goes cross-on and choppy. Saturday 22 August is a total loss with onshore wind and poor conditions.

Then we hit a dry patch. Sunday 23 August has 7ft from the SSE at 8 seconds, with moderate offshore wind, but it’s still “surfable but ordinary.” The energy is moderate (676). From Monday 24 August through to Monday 31 August, the swell drops and the wind keeps shifting. There are a few glassy mornings (like Tuesday 25 August and Friday 28 August) but the swell is tiny – under 3ft – and the period is short. The combined energy drops to weak values (87 to 252). This is a long stretch of nothing special.

The standout in this whole forecast, and it’s the only one I’d get excited about, is Wednesday 19 August. That’s the day the groundswell rolls in with 6ft from the ESE, a period of 11 seconds, and strong energy (1351). Kirra is a point/groyne break, so a long period swell like that will wrap in nicely, offering better shaped waves and longer lulls between sets. The wind is a cross-off from the SSE, which will keep it reasonably clean. The water temperature is 68°F, which is about 1°F cooler than the long-term average for this time of year – nothing unusual, just a normal late-winter chill. This is the best on offer, but it’s a week away and the tide conditions are a question mark. If you’re a confident intermediate, it’s worth a look. For beginners, 6ft might be a bit pushy, but not impossible.

Beyond that, Wednesday 26 August sees a fresh offshore breeze from the south with 6ft from the SSE and a period of 10 seconds, but the energy is moderate (651) and the forecast still calls it poor. The wind is strong at 19 mph, and that’s a lot of offshore wind for a point break – it could hold the face open, but it might also be a battle. Not a standout.

Keep an eye on Wednesday 19 August. That’s your best shot. The rest of the window is a long grind of weak, messy, or tiny surf. It’s not a great run, but Kirra can turn it on when the swell lines up, and forecasts can change. For now, I’d be looking at that Wednesday morning session and hoping the tide cooperates.

Rusty.

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