Lyall Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s have a look at what’s headed our way at Lyall Bay over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with ya – it’s a real mixed bag, and for long stretches, there’s not much to get excited about. But there are a couple of windows where things line up.

Right now, we’re kicking off on Sunday the 30th of August. It’s small, with a 2ft SSW swell, but the wind is a moderate offshore from the NNW, keeping it clean. The water’s sitting at 55°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year – nothing unusual there. The wave energy is moderate (123), and while the waves are surfable, they’re very ordinary. Not a standout.

Monday the 31st sees the swell jump up, but the wind turns ugly. Morning has a strong cross-offshore breeze at 25 mph, making the 7ft swell from the SSW look like a messy prospect – definitely not worth it. The energy is strong (1256), but conditions are poor. The afternoon drops to 6ft with a light cross-onshore, but it’s still only marginal at best.

Now, Tuesday the 1st of September is a bit of a teaser. We’ve got a big 10ft SSW swell rolling in with a 12-second period, and the wind and tide are favorable. But here’s the thing – that size is way too big for Lyall Bay, especially for beginners. The energy is very strong (2354 and 2601), so it’s a powerful, heavy ocean, but only for experts who know what they’re doing.

Wednesday the 2nd stays big at 8ft from the S, but the wind is a strong cross-offshore again, making it messy. The morning has moderate energy (2376), but the afternoon sees a very long period swell of 16 seconds, boosting the energy even higher (2607). That long period groundswell can make for some proper shape, but at Lyall Bay, a beach break, it might break a bit too straight – better suited to a point or reef.

The real gem in this whole outlook is Thursday the 3rd of September in the afternoon. The swell drops to a manageable 4ft from the S, and the wind swings light offshore from the NNE. That’s clean, glassy conditions with moderate wave energy (384). It’s not huge, but for a surfer looking for a decent session, this is the best on offer – clean lines and no crowds mentioned, though Lyall Bay can get busy.

After that, it goes downhill fast. From Friday the 4th through to Saturday the 5th of September, it’s a wasteland – tiny 1ft to 2ft swells with strong cross-offshore winds. The energy drops into double digits (48 to 87). Hardly worth paddling out for.

Sunday the 6th has a bit more pulse – 2ft SSW swell with a 14-second period, but a near gale from the NNW at 34 mph makes it a write-off. The energy is moderate (204), but the wind is just horrible.

The following week starts with some heavy water. Monday the 7th of September has a 8ft S swell, but it’s short-period at 7 seconds with a strong cross-offshore wind. Not good. The afternoon shows 10ft S swell with a slightly better 8-second period, and the wind is lighter, but again, that size is too big for Lyall Bay for most.

Tuesday the 8th of September offers another brief window. Morning sees a 5ft S swell with a light offshore from the N, making for clean, moderate offshore conditions. The wave energy is moderate (390). It’s a solid option for the confident intermediate, but not a standout due to the size.

The rest of the second week is a mess. From Wednesday the 9th through to Saturday the 13th of September, it’s mostly small, windy, or too big with poor wind. There’s a notable 15ft S swell on Saturday the 12th with a 10-second period, but with a strong cross-onshore, that’s just dangerous and messy (energy 4204). Only for the crazy or the kite surfers, honestly.

Sunday the 14th of September sees a tiny 2ft S swell with a very long 21-second period, but cross-onshore wind ruins it. The energy is surprisingly moderate (956), but the conditions are choppy.

So, to sum it up: if you can, aim for Thursday afternoon, the 3rd of September. That’s your best chance for clean, fun waves at Lyall Bay. The Tuesday the 8th morning is a backup, but it’s not as clean. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or too big for this break. A long wait for a couple of good windows.

Stay tuned, forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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