Lyall Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, it’s been a bit of a slow start here at Lyall Bay. The first few days are a write-off with howling southerly winds and a big, unruly swell just getting chopped up. Saturday the 1st of August is a total no-go – that 15 ft SSW swell is a mess under a 45 km/h southerly (combined energy of 4069) – that’s just for the big dogs or the kite surfers. We’ve got to wait until Sunday the 2nd for the first real chance.

That Sunday morning, the wind swings around to the north and goes offshore. It’s a solid 7 ft S swell with an 11-second period (combined energy of 1231). The water temp is sitting at 55°, which is about average for this time of year. It’s a clean, fun-sized wave, but remember Lyall Bay is pretty inconsistent, so you’ll be waiting for your sets. It’s the best on offer for the weekend, but it’s not a world-beater.

Monday the 3rd still has some decent offshore energy in the afternoon, with a 4 ft SSW swell and a nice 12-second period, but the wind is light and cross-shore in the morning. It’s a bit of a mixed bag.

The real standout is shaping up for Thursday the 6th of August. The morning is looking glassy with an ENE breeze at just 5 km/h, and there’s a clean 6 ft SSE swell with an 11-second period (combined energy of 1217). That’s going to be smooth and clean, perfect for a long session. The afternoon is even better – dead calm, glassy conditions, with a 5 ft SSE swell. That’s your pick of the whole first week.

Then Friday the 7th of August is for the experienced crew. We’ve got a 8 ft S swell with a very long 16-second period in the morning (combined energy of 3824). That’s a proper groundswell. The offshore northerly wind will keep it clean, but at that size and with that long period, it’s only for the experts. It’s going to be powerful and a bit of a paddle out, but the waves will be well-shaped.

After that, the surf drops off and the winds go onshore again. There’s a long gap of poor conditions from the 10th right through to the 13th of August. It’s just small, choppy, and messy. Combined energy dips down to as low as 32 during that spell.

We get a little flicker of life on Friday the 14th of August – a 8 ft SSE swell with a fresh offshore northerly wind (combined energy of 627). It’s a moderate swell with a short 8-second period, so it’ll be a bit lumpy, but it’s a clean option for a late-week surf. Not a standout, but it’s rideable.

The last day of the forecast, Sunday the 16th of August, is a small, weak, onshore mess again. Nothing to get excited about.

So, the main takeaway: if you’ve got a flexible schedule, hold out for Thursday the 6th of August. That glassy, clean 6 ft SSE swell is the best of the lot. If you’re after something bigger and you’ve got the skill, Friday the 7th of August is your window.

Rusty.

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