Lawrencetown Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve been staring at the charts for Lawrencetown Reef and, honestly, it’s a pretty grim run for the next couple of weeks. The whole 16-day window is a real struggle, with barely a window that’s worth paddling out for. We’ve got a long stretch of poor conditions, so don’t be in a rush.

Right now, on Monday the 13th, it’s flat and glassy in the morning with a tiny 1 ft swell from the SSW and a period of just 7 seconds. The wave energy is a weak 45. Water temp is sitting at 58°, which is about normal for this time of year. It’s clean, but there’s nothing to ride. By the afternoon, the wind swings and it’s already cross-on and choppy. Not a good start.

Tuesday the 14th is a write-off. The swell picks up to 6 ft in the morning and 7 ft in the afternoon, but it’s on a short 6–7 second period and the wind is howling at 19 mph, cross-on, making it lumpy and messy. The energy is moderate (202 to 422), but it’s just a mess.

Wednesday the 15th is a bit of a tease. The morning sees a 7 ft swell from the SW with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy is a strong 1078. But the report says it’s too big for this break, and with a cross-on breeze, it’s not happening. The afternoon, though, is interesting. The wind drops to glassy, and the swell drops to 5 ft from the SSW. The energy is moderate (356) and the conditions are glassy. The forecast says “expect good surf conditions,” but the score is low. It’s a small window and it’s promising, but it’s not a standout.

From Thursday the 16th right through to Tuesday the 28th, it’s a long, painful stretch of poor surf. There are a few moments where the wind is clean, like Friday the 17th morning with a cross-off breeze, but the swell is small and weak. The real kicker is Tuesday the 21st afternoon, when a 7 ft swell from the S with a 10-second period rolls in, and the energy is a massive 1024. But again, it’s flagged as too big for the break. Wednesday the 22nd has a similar story with 6 ft and 6 ft swells, but the wind is onshore or cross-on, and the conditions are marginal.

To be honest, if you’re a kite surfer, you might find some fun on those bigger, windy days (like Tuesday the 14th or the 24th), but for a paddle surfer, it’s a desert. The only real glimmer is Wednesday afternoon the 15th, with the glassy conditions and a clean 5 ft swell. That’s your best bet, but it’s a short window. The rest is a waiting game. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it, but right now, it’s a tough outlook.

Rusty.

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