Lawrencetown Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Lawrencetown Reef has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. Honestly, it's a bit of a tough stretch ahead. The whole 16-day window is looking pretty quiet, with only a couple of moments that might get your heart rate up.

We're kicking off with a big fat nothing. From the 7th right through to the morning of the 10th of September, it’s flat and dead. Those easterly swells are tiny, barely a ripple, and while the wind is often cross-offshore and clean, there’s just no energy to work with. The combined energy is sitting down in the double digits (93 or less), so don't even bother checking the cam.

Then, things get a bit wild, but not in a good way. On Thursday the 10th, we’ve got a big, chunky SSW swell rolling in, pushing the height up to 8ft to 10ft. The energy jumps right up to 569 and 865, so there’s plenty of power, but it’s a total mess. That wind is howling onshore at 22 to 28 mph, making the whole thing a lumpy, blown-out disaster. It’s going to be a washing machine out there, maybe more interesting for the kite crew than us paddle surfers. The period is also a short, choppy 7 seconds.

Friday the 11th is where our only real chance sits. The swell drops back to a more manageable 6ft, still from the SSW, but now the wind swings to the WNW, giving us a clean cross-off breeze. It's not perfect, but it's the best we'll see. The combined energy is still moderate (500 to 880), showing there's some push, but the wave comment is only calling it "marginal." The period is still a short 8 seconds, so it'll be a bit crumbly. If you're an experienced surfer who knows the reef, you might get a few, but it’s not going to be world-class by any stretch. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so a spring suit will be your best mate.

After that little pulse, it fades fast. From Saturday the 12th onwards, we’re back into a long, drawn-out lull. The swell drops under 3ft and the energy bleeds away into the double digits again. Most days are plagued with cross-onshore or onshore breezes, making for choppy and uninviting conditions. There are a few mornings with cleaner cross-off winds, but with wave heights of 1ft to 3ft and a combined energy down at 29, 32, or 44, there's just nothing to surf.

So, bottom line: this is a lean run for Lawrencetown Reef. Don’t hold your breath for the next two weeks. The only day that even deserves a mention is Friday the 11th of September, and even that is just a "maybe" for the keen and the patient.

Rusty.

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