Lefthanders Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Lefthanders.

Right off the bat, don’t get your hopes up for the next few days. We’ve got a massive pulse of swell on the way, but it’s just way too much for this spot. Starting Monday morning, August 24th, we’re looking at 10ft of SW swell with a 13-second period, and the water’s a touch warmer than normal at 67°. The combined energy is already a hefty 3045 (moderate), and it’s only going to climb. The wind is cross-on from the NW at 9 mph, which is messy, and the swell is just too big for this break. That theme continues through Monday and Tuesday – the swell sits between 8ft and 10ft, with the wind getting stronger, up to 25 mph, and the energy hitting 3146 and 3688. It’s all poor surf conditions, so don’t bother paddling out.

Wednesday, August 26th, is a monster. The swell jumps to 16ft from the WSW with a very long period of 18 seconds, and the combined energy is a massive 15792 (very strong). This is serious groundswell, and while the wind is cross-shore from the S at 12 mph, it’s still way too big for any kind of safe paddle session. Same story on Thursday, August 27th, with 13ft swell and energy at 6856 (strong) – the wind is cross from the SSW at 19 mph, creating lumpy conditions. This is kite-surfing territory, not for your average surfer.

Friday, August 28th, things start to drop. Morning brings 8ft SW swell, but the wind is cross from the S at 9 mph, and the energy is down to 1617 (moderate). The forecast calls it marginal, and the tide could be a factor. The afternoon is a bit cleaner with a cross-off breeze from the SSE at 16 mph, but it’s still only a 7ft swell, so not much to get excited about.

Now, here’s the standout. Saturday, August 29th, morning session. The swell is 8ft from the SW with a long period of 16 seconds, and the energy is 3989 (moderate). The wind is cross-off from the NE at 9 mph, which means clean conditions. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – the size is solid, and the offshore wind should line up the reef nicely. It’s a very consistent spot, so you’ll get waves, but be aware that crowds are often here. The swell direction is WSW, which matches the optimum for Lefthanders, so the wave quality should be good. This is the best on offer in the whole outlook.

Saturday afternoon, the wind goes glassy from the W at 3 mph, but the swell jumps to 11ft, which is again too big for this break. Sunday, August 30th, morning sees 10ft SW swell with a long 16-second period and cross-on wind from the N at 12 mph – still too big. The afternoon is 8ft WSW swell with the same wind, but it’s marginal.

The following week, from Monday, August 31st, through to Sunday, September 6th, it’s a mixed bag of poor conditions and oversized swell. The energy stays high, mostly between 2500 and 8912, and the wind is often onshore or cross-on from the NW or W, up to 28 mph. The swell is consistently 8ft to 13ft, with periods around 13-15 seconds. There’s nothing worth paddling out for here – it’s all messy, choppy, or too big.

Then, on Tuesday, September 8th, we get a potential late call. The morning has 5ft WSW swell with a 12-second period, and the wind is cross-off from the SSE at 6 mph, making it clean. The energy is 1146 (moderate), and it’s rated as excellent for experienced surfers. This is a smaller, more manageable option after the chaos, but it’s over a week away, so keep an eye on it. The afternoon sees the swell pick up to 8ft with a longer 14-second period, but the wind goes cross from the S at 12 mph, making it only marginal.

Overall, the weekend of August 29th is your best bet. Saturday morning at Lefthanders is the one to aim for – clean, solid, and with that long-period groundswell wrapping into the reef. The rest of the window is either too big, too windy, or just plain messy. For the second week, the September 8th morning window is a promising but less certain option if you’re after smaller waves.

Rusty.

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