Lyall Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let's have a proper look at what Lyall Bay has got cookin' for us over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first few days are pretty ordinary, with tiny waves and less-than-ideal conditions. But don’t you worry, because the real action kicks off later in the week. The water’s sitting at 57°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so you might get away with a slightly thinner wetsuit.

Tuesday the 8th is building but not much to write home about. We’ve got a 2ft south swell, but it’s all over the place with the energy only reaching 115 (weak). The morning is glassy, which is a blessing, but the waves are just too small and weak to get excited about. It’s a knee-slapper, not a stand-out.

Wednesday the 9th is more of the same, with a tiny 2ft swell from the ESE. The morning is clean with a light offshore breeze, but the swell energy is even lower at 73. It’s a paddle-around session, not a surf session.

Thursday the 10th is a write-off. The swell drops to a pathetic 0.7ft, and the wind is howling from the NW at 22 mph. On top of that, heavy rain moves in during the afternoon. Just stay home and watch the cams.

Now, Friday the 11th is where it starts to get interesting. That morning, we get a clean 6ft south swell, with the energy jumping up to 447 (moderate). The wind is glassy from the WNW. This is your first real window of opportunity. The waves will have some punch, but the period is short at 7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and sectiony. Still, for a quick session, it’s the best we’ve seen.

Saturday the 12th is a tale of two halves. The morning is messy with a cross-onshore wind, but the afternoon... whoa. The swell jumps to a massive 10ft from the south, and the energy goes ballistic at 2439 (strong). The wind goes light offshore from the north, making it look clean. But here’s the catch – 10ft is a lot of water for Lyall Bay. This is strictly for experts only. The break is a beach break, and with that much south swell, it’s going to be a heavy, moving wall of water. If you’re not a seasoned local, stay on the sand and watch the show.

Sunday the 13th hangs in there with a solid 7ft south swell (energy 1691), but it’s onshore in the morning and cross-onshore in the arvo. The conditions are marginal, but the swell is there for anyone brave enough to deal with the chop.

Monday the 14th is a bit of a mixed bag. The morning is still cross-onshore and messy, but the afternoon is a beauty. The wind swings light offshore from the NW, and the swell is a solid 7ft from the south, with energy at 855. The period is a moderate 10 seconds. This is your second-best option of the whole forecast. The waves will be powerful and clean, but at 7ft, it’s still a bit big for beginners. For the experienced crew, this is a proper session.

After that, the swell tapers off through the rest of the second week. Tuesday the 15th has a 5ft south swell, but the wind is a fresh 19 mph offshore, which will make it bumpy. It’s surfable, but not a standout.

The real standout of the entire forecast, if you’re an expert, is Thursday the 17th. The afternoon sees a crazy 16ft south swell, with energy at a monstrous 6482. This is a big, serious swell. The wind is cross-offshore from the WNW, which will keep it reasonably clean. But this is a beast. At 16ft, Lyall Bay will be a washing machine. Only the most experienced, big-wave chargers should even think about it. The rest of us will be watching from the cliffs.

The final days from the 18th onward are mostly blown out by onshore winds or dropping swell. A few small clean windows on the 20th and 21st, but nothing to rearrange your schedule for.

Bottom line: The best on offer for the average surfer is Friday morning the 11th for a clean, moderate session, or Monday afternoon the 14th for a bigger, cleaner, more powerful wave. The experts should mark their calendars for Saturday afternoon the 12th and Thursday afternoon the 17th – but be warned, those are serious swells.

Rusty

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