Last Chance Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty here. Let’s break down the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster, with some clean, fun waves to start, a proper flat spell, and then a big, powerful swell that’s worth making plans for. The clear standout is the last day of August, but let’s get through the rest first.

First up, we’re looking at Last Chance for Friday morning, August 21st. It’s a point break that’s fairly consistent, exposed to the swell, and it loves a NE direction. Water temps are about spot on for this time of year. You’re looking at chest to head-high surf, a solid 5ft, coming from the S with a long 13-second period. The energy is strong, coming in at 1172. The wind is a light cross-off from the NW, which will keep it tidy. This is excellent surf for those who know what they’re doing. A ripping start to the weekend.

Saturday the 22nd still has some fun on offer. The swell backs off a touch to 4ft, still from the S with a 12-second period. The wind goes light and variable, and by the afternoon it’s glassy. That’s a major plus. The energy drops into the moderate range (441 in the morning, 302 in the afternoon), but it’ll still be a fun, clean session.

Then we hit a slump. Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th morning are not worth getting out of bed for. The swell is small and the wind is up. However, Monday afternoon the 24th is worth a mention. It’s just under 4ft from the S, but the period jumps to a long 15 seconds, and the energy kicks back up to 1055. The wind is a light cross-off, so it should be clean. It’s got more push and power than the weekend.

Tuesday the 25th morning is glassy with a clean 4ft, but it doesn’t last, and the onshore kicks in for the afternoon. Wednesday and Thursday are a bit ordinary, with the wind swinging around and making things messy. By Thursday afternoon, a strong cross-on wind arrives, and it’s time to call it. We then get a proper flat spell for Friday the 28th all the way through to Saturday the 29th. The swell drops to under 3ft and the energy is weak. The water goes glassy at times, but there’s just nothing coming through. It’s a two-day lull where you’re better off doing something else.

Now, for the one that gets the heart pumping. Sunday the 30th of August sees a new pulse arrive. The swell builds to 5-6ft, from the S with a solid 14-15 second period. The energy is strong again, over 1000. The wind is cross-off and clean. This is shaping up to be a good day, but it’s a sign of things to come. The real standout is Monday the 31st of August. The swell is a chunky 10ft, from the S with a 15-second period, and the energy is massive at 4559. The wind is glassy in the morning. This is serious, powerful groundswell. For a point break like Last Chance, this is where it shines. The long period should make it line up beautifully. It’s expert territory for sure, way overhead and pushing hard. This is the one.

The surf stays active through the start of September, but the winds are the issue. Tuesday the 1st is 6ft but the onshore wind makes it lumpy. Wednesday the 2nd is similar, cross-shore and messy. By Thursday the 3rd of September, it settles down a bit. The swell drops to 4ft, and by the afternoon it’s clean and glassy. It’s a fun size, but a big step down from Monday’s beast.

The second week gets a bit weird. Friday the 4th sees a short-period, steep NE windswell wrap in for the afternoon, and it just looks like a mess. Saturday the 5th is small and junky. The long-range stuff is promising but less certain, with that Monday the 31st looking like the undeniable highlight. Keep an eye on the charts for that one.

Remember, the surf is for the experienced this week. That 10ft day is no joke.

Signing off,
Rusty

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