Long Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag coming up over the next couple of weeks. The surf kicks off with some small, clean windows, but the real standout is a nice pulse of swell later in the first week. Let’s get into it.

We start off Monday 24 August with a tiny, marginal 3ft south swell at 10 seconds and a light north cross-breeze – not much to get excited about, energy is a weak 275. Water temp is sitting at 63°, which is about average for this time of year, so no wetsuit drama there. By Tuesday 25 August, things pick up a notch. The morning sees a 5ft north-east swell, but it’s short period at 7 seconds, so a bit fat and sectiony. Wind is a moderate north cross-off, making it clean, and the energy jumps to 390 – moderate. The afternoon gets even better: 5ft north-east swell, period dropping slightly to 8 seconds, but wind stays clean from the north-northwest as a gentle breeze, and the energy is 278. This is a solid, fun session for the advanced crew at Long Reef – a reef break that’s fairly consistent. Crowds are sometimes a factor, so keep an eye out.

Wednesday 26 August morning is another cleanie with a 4ft east-north-east swell at 8 seconds, cross-off wind from the south-southwest, and energy at 204. It’s a good option, but the afternoon turns ugly with a 6ft south swell and short 6-second period, plus a moderate south cross-shore – choppy and messy, more of a kite session than a paddle.

Now, the real standout is Friday 28 August morning. Glassy conditions, 4ft south swell at 10 seconds, energy a solid 333. That’s a groundswell, and for a reef like Long Reef, the longer period means better shape and more grunt. The wind is glassy, so it’ll be clean as a whistle. This is the best wave in the window – consistent, decent size, and offshore flow. Saturday 29 August morning is also a ripper: 4ft south-south-east swell at 10 seconds, cross-off breeze from the south-southwest, and energy at 275. Clean, lined up, and a pleasure to surf.

After that, the surf drops off quickly. Sunday 30 August morning is still surfable but small at 3ft, and then we hit a long dry spell. From Monday 31 August right through to Sunday 6 September, the swell is tiny – mostly 1ft to 2ft – and the energy is weak, often under 100. A few mornings have glassy or offshore winds, but there’s just not enough wave to ride. The run of poor conditions stretches for over a week, which is a bummer, but it’s not unusual for this area. The last chance for a sniff comes on Monday 7 September morning with a 2ft south swell and offshore wind, but it’s still very small.

The long-range standout is Tuesday 8 September morning: a 4ft north-east swell at 7 seconds, offshore wind from the west, and energy of 162. It’s a week and a half away, so less certain, but if it holds, it’ll be clean and rideable for the advanced crew.

Best bet: Friday 28 August morning – glassy, 4ft south groundswell, pure magic at Long Reef.

Rusty.

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