Lyall Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll level with you – the next couple of weeks at Lyall Bay are a bit of a mixed bag. There’s a glimmer of decent surf, but you’re gonna have to pick your moments. The water temp is sitting right around average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real chance to get wet comes Friday morning, August 7th. We’ve got a solid 5ft south swell with a very long period of 15 seconds rolling in. That’s proper groundswell energy, and the combined energy is strong (1485). The wind is a cross-off from the NNW at 22 mph, so the faces will be clean. Now, that long-period stuff can be a bit straight at a beach break like Lyall Bay, but it’ll still offer some hefty, well-shaped lines. Keep in mind, it’s a touch over 5ft, so it might be pushing it for the beginners. The crowds are "sometimes" an issue, but on a Friday morning you might get a bit of room.

Friday afternoon is similar, with the swell pushing up to 6ft and the wind freshening to 25 mph, still cross-off. The energy is still very strong (1431). It’s powerful, but the wind is getting a bit strong.

Saturday, August 8th, the swell drops a little, but the morning is still clean with cross-off winds. The standout is Saturday afternoon: the wind goes offshore from the north at 19 mph, with a 4ft south swell at 11 seconds. The energy is moderate (411), but with fresh offshore breeze, it’ll be clean and lined up. This is a good window for a solid session.

Sunday, August 9th, is a write-off. The morning has a near-gale offshore wind (31 mph) that’s going to make paddling out a nightmare, even though the swell is a clean 3ft. The energy is weak (293). The afternoon is cross-off but still strong wind, and the swell drops to 3ft.

Monday, August 10th, has onshore wind and poor conditions. We get a bit of a bump in the afternoon with a 6ft swell, but it’s onshore and messy.

Now, the best of the whole run looks like Tuesday, August 11th. The afternoon is an absolute gem. The wind goes glassy, dead calm from the SE at only 3 mph. The swell is a clean 3ft from the SSE with a period of 11 seconds. The energy is weak (279), but for a small, clean wave, this is as good as it gets. The water will be like a mirror. If you can get out for a late session, you’ll be grinning.

After that, the swell dies off. Wednesday and Thursday, August 12th and 13th, have very small waves (1.0ft to 1ft) with offshore winds, but it’s just not enough to paddle. You’ll be chasing ankle-biters.

Then we hit a big gap. From Friday, August 14th, through to Tuesday, August 18th, the conditions are poor or the swell is tiny and onshore. There’s a spike on Sunday, August 16th, with an 8ft southerly swell, but it’s onshore with strong wind and a short period – that’s a messy, dangerous beast only for the brave, and even then, the quality is poor. The combined energy is strong (751), but the wind is a mess.

The second week looks rough. Wednesday, August 19th, has a tiny 3ft swell and clean faces, but it’s ordinary. Thursday, August 20th, has a strong 6ft southerly swell with strong onshore wind (near gale) – that’s a blown-out, choppy mess. Friday, August 21st, is similar but with lighter wind. The run ends on Saturday, August 22nd, with a small 3ft south swell and fresh offshore wind, but the energy is weak (229).

So, if you’re looking for the best on offer, it’s hands-down Tuesday afternoon, August 11th for the glassy, clean conditions. The fallback is Saturday afternoon, August 8th for the offshore wind and a bit more size. The rest is a waiting game.

Rusty.

Read more