Long Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s comin’ down the line for our little slice of coast.

Overall, the pattern is a slow burner. The first few days are a write-off, but we’ve got a couple of proper windows to get excited about if you’re patient. There’s a bit of a gap early on, so don’t bother paddling out until things clean up.

The immediate outlook is grim. Wednesday the 26th has rain and strong cross-off winds making a mess of a weak 3.6ft swell. The energy is moderate (219), but the conditions are just poor. It’s a no-go.

Thursday the 27th is a bit better with a 6.2ft swell, but that south wind is still cross, and the period is short at 9 seconds. The energy is getting stronger (641), but it’s still marginal. It’s frustrating – you can see the potential, but it’s not quite there.

Now, Friday morning the 28th is where it starts to get interesting. We’ve got clean surf with offshore wind from the west, and a 5.2ft, 11-second groundswell from the SSE. The energy is strong (720). This is a solid, well-shaped wave. Long Reef is a reef break, so that long period will wrap in nicely. It’s a standout for the week.

The weekend is a mixed bag, but Sunday morning the 30th offers a little window with clean conditions and a 3.3ft south swell. The energy is moderate (276). It’s not big, but it’ll be tidy.

Now, hold on to your board. Monday morning the 31st of August is the pick of the entire forecast. We’ve got glassy conditions, zero wind, and a 3.6ft, 17-second very long period groundswell from the south. The energy is a solid 892. This is a real treat. That long period will mean long, powerful lines and clean faces. For a reef break like Long Reef, this is a dream setup. The set waves will have serious push, and the paddling will be easy. Just be aware, the crowds can show up here, so get in early.

After that spike, the first week of September tails off into smaller, cleaner conditions. Tuesday the 1st will be rideable with clean cross-off winds and a 3.3ft swell, but it's nothing to write home about.

Then we hit a dry spell. From Wednesday the 2nd all the way through to Saturday the 5th, the energy drops right off (as low as 53), and the swell is tiny. There’s a solid 8-day gap where the surf is just too small and weak to bother with. It’s a real lull.

We get a flicker of life on Sunday the 6th of September with a 6.6ft south swell, but the period is short at 7 seconds, and the wind is clean but strong. The energy is back up (529), but that short period will make it bumpy. It’s marginal.

The real standout for the second week is Thursday morning the 10th of September. We’ve got a fresh offshore wind from the WSW, and the swell is pumping at 7.9ft from the south, with an 8-second period. The energy is strong (746). This is a solid, powerful swell, and with that offshore wind, the reef will be firing. This one’s for the experienced crew – 7.9ft is getting into expert territory, but it’s clean and powerful. It’s a long-range standout, so keep an eye on the charts.

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