Lakes Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a honest look at what’s on the table for Lakes Beach over the next couple of weeks. Straight up, this stretch is an exposed sandbar setup—advanced only, and it’s fairly consistent but picky with the right swell direction. The water is sitting around 64°, about normal for this time of year, so nothing wild there. The overall pattern is pretty quiet, but there are a couple of windows worth paddling out for if you time it right.

The first recommendation pops up on Tuesday the 25th, afternoon. We get a 5ft NE swell, period short at 7 seconds, with a gentle cross-offshore breeze from the NW. That’ll clean things up nicely and you’ll find some workable, punchy little waves. Moderate combined energy (381), nothing huge but enough. Not a standout day, but it’s the first real shot.

Wednesday the 26th morning offers a drop to 3ft from ENE, 8-second period, still with clean cross-off winds from the SW. Combined energy low (155), so it’s pretty ordinary. I’d skip that.

Now, the best of the whole run comes on Thursday the 27th morning. Glassy conditions, SSE wind barely a whisper—3 mph. Swell is 5ft from the S, period 8 seconds, combined energy a solid 390 (moderate). That’s clean, lined-up sandbar surf. For advanced crew only at that size, but it’s the absolute standout. Really good if you’re ready for a bit of punch.

After that, it fades. Saturday the 29th morning is surfable but ordinary—3ft, SSE, clean but weak (194). Sunday the 30th morning is glassy again but tiny at 2ft (133). Not worth a dawn patrol unless you’re desperate.

Now here’s something interesting: Monday the 31st morning. Swell is 2ft from the S, but the period jumps to 18 seconds—very long groundswell. Combined energy spikes to 494 (moderate). Clean offshore breeze from the SSW. This is a proper groundswell, so the waves will be longer, shapelier, and the sets will have gaps. At beach breaks like this, it might run a bit too straight, but if the sandbar catches it right, you could get some clean, lined-up runners. Worth checking.

September kicks off with that same long-period groundswell (14 seconds) Tuesday the 1st morning, 3ft S, but cross-shore wind from NNW makes it messy. By Wednesday the 2nd morning, it’s glassy again but down to 2ft from the S, period 12 seconds—just a ripple.

After the 4th of September, it’s pretty much dead. There’s a solid gap with no decent recommendations from the 5th through the end of the forecast. Saturday the 5th is tiny onshore junk, Sunday the 6th morning has a 2ft ENE swell with light offshore WSW wind, but combined energy is only 98 (weak). Not worth getting wet for. Monday the 7th morning is just 2ft with a strong NW cross-offshore breeze and energy at 107—weak and messy.

Bottom line: the only two real standout windows are Thursday the 27th August morning (glassy, 5ft S) and Monday the 31st August morning (long period groundswell, 2ft S, but clean). The rest is slim pickings. For a sandbar that needs a decent SE swell to really work, you’re looking at a small, ordinary run. Don’t stress—forecasts change, and this break is usually fairly consistent, so it won’t stay flat forever.

Rusty

Read more