Long Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, looking at the next couple of weeks at Long Reef. We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but there’s some serious juice coming in the second week that’ll get the heart pumping.

Right now, the water temp is sitting at 64°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there when you first paddle out.

Sunday morning the 2nd of August is where we kick things off. Offshore cross-off breeze from the NNW at just 3 mph, waves around 5ft from the SSE with a solid 13-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy pushing through. The combined swell energy is 999 (moderate), and the conditions are clean. This is a genuine standout for the near term. Long Reef is a reef break, so that long-period SSE swell is going to wrap in nicely and give you some solid, well-shaped lines. It’s an advanced wave, and with crowds sometimes, you’ll be sharing it but not fighting for every set. The morning is your window, because by afternoon the NE wind kicks up to 12 mph and messes it up.

Monday morning the 3rd is smaller at 3ft from the SE, still cross-off, but it’s only a 1/10 score internally – marginal at best. Not worth getting excited about. Tuesday drops right off to nearly nothing. Wednesday and Thursday have some small bumps, but the wind isn’t cooperating. Thursday morning the 6th has a bump to 5ft from the S with offshore wind, scoring a 2/10 internally – surfable, but not a standout.

Friday morning the 7th sees 6ft from the S, still offshore, energy at 465 (moderate), but again it’s only a 2/10 internally. Clean, but not the main event. Saturday the 8th has a tiny 3ft glassy morning – flat and pretty, but not worth the drive.

Then we hit a gap. From Saturday the 8th through to Monday the 10th, the surf quality is poor or marginal. On Monday the 10th, the swell bumps up to 6ft from the SSW, but it’s getting hammered by fresh 22 mph winds – that’s a mess. Honestly, that’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session.

The real standout – the one you’ve been waiting for – arrives on Tuesday the 11th of August. Morning session: 5ft from the S, 10-second period, light offshore breeze from the WNW at 6 mph. The combined energy jumps to 588 (moderate-strong), and the score hits a 3/10 internally. Clean, offshore, with proper energy. This is a very good morning.

But hold onto your board, because the big stuff is coming. On Friday the 14th of August, the swell jumps to a solid 10ft from the S with a 10-second period, and a light offshore wind. The combined energy is a massive 2910 (very strong). This is only for experienced surfers – over 8ft and it’s expert territory. The morning is clean, and the score is a 4/10 internally. Long Reef will be handling that south pulse beautifully. Strong currents and big sets.

Then Saturday the 15th of August morning: 12ft from the S, 12-second period (very long period groundswell), combined energy at 3762 (very strong). Offshore cross-off from the WNW at 6 mph. This is the peak of the run. It’s a 5/10 internally – the best on offer. But again, only for experts. The reef will focus that long-period swell, but expect some straight closeouts at the beach if you’re out back. Stick to the point or reef sections.

Sunday the 16th of August morning still has 7ft from the SSE with a 11-second period, offshore wind, energy at 1163 (strong), score a 4/10 internally. Another excellent morning but dropping off.

By Monday the 17th of August, it’s back down to 4ft and glassy, but the energy has faded. A nice way to finish, but not a standout.

So, mark your calendar for Sunday morning the 2nd for the first real clean session, and then the absolute standout is Saturday morning the 15th of August – massive 12ft, clean, long-period, expert-only. That’s the one. The second week’s big swell is promising but less certain this far out, so keep an eye on the forecast.

Rusty, signing off.

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