Lefthanders Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s brewing. No slow start – we’ve got heavy swell hitting right away, all at Lefthanders. This is a very consistent reef break that’s wide open to the swell, and it’s about to get absolutely smashed. The water’s sitting at 66°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – nice, but you won’t be feeling that once you’re out there.

The issue is, for the first few days, the swell is just too big. Wednesday the 26th kicks off with a massive 16ft swell out of the WSW, with a very long period of 18 seconds. The combined wave energy is through the roof at 14,437 – strong and powerful. The wind is cross-offshore in the afternoon, so it’ll be clean, but honestly, this is only for the elite. Beginners, stay well away. This is expert territory.

Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th see the swell dropping, but the wind stays strong and cross-off. By Thursday afternoon, it’s still 12ft from the SW with a 14-second period, and the energy is still high at 5,738. It’s clean, but it’s pushing the limit. Friday is still sizable but the quality drops off – not the best.

Now, Saturday the 29th is where we get a standout. The morning is the pick of the whole run. We’ve got a 7ft SW groundswell, but the period jumps to a very long 16 seconds, and the wind swings to a clean easterly offshore at 12 mph. The water will be glassy, the waves will have proper shape, and the energy is moderate at 3,360. This is a reef, so that long period will wrap in beautifully. For experienced surfers, this is the session to circle. The afternoon bumps up to 10ft and stays offshore, but it’ll be bigger again.

Sunday the 30th is still pumping with 10ft swell and clean conditions in the morning, but then things go a bit pear-shaped. From Monday the 31st right through to the start of September, we get onshore winds, lumpy conditions, and the swell stays in that 8ft to 12ft range. It’s just not going to be great. There’s a moment on Thursday morning, the 3rd of September, where it goes glassy with a 13ft SW swell – 6,812 energy – but the wind is from the NW at just 3 mph, and it’s listed as onshore soon after. For the die-hards who can handle the size, that morning might offer a window.

After that, the second week gets wild. The 7th and 8th of September see the biggest swell of the entire forecast – we’re talking 23ft to 25ft with energy readings over 34,000. That’s colossal and dangerous. Only the most experienced should even think about it, and that’s if the wind aligns. It’s a bit lumpy, but the afternoon of the 7th has clean cross-off winds. Still, it’s a big, raw ocean.

The real standout across the whole 16 days is Saturday the 29th of August, morning. That’s your window. Offshore wind, clean lines, solid but not stupid size, and that reef will handle the long-period swell beautifully. It’s a reef break, so expect proper waves, and it’s often crowded – so get in early. After that, it’s a waiting game for a clean, manageable day, which doesn’t really come again until maybe the morning of the 10th of September, but by then we’re talking 16ft again. It’s a big-swell cycle, so pick your moments carefully.

Rusty.

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