Magna Tubes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve been looking over the charts for Magna Tubes. This reef setup is a well-known spot, but it’s not gonna be all smiles and barrels for a while. The water is a freezing 58°, which is a massive 8° colder than usual for this time of year – that’s seriously unusual, mate, so you’ll want a thick steamer.

The first few days are a write-off. Monday afternoon through to Wednesday afternoon of the 10th to 12th of August, there’s nothing but cross-onshore winds and junk. The swell energy is strong, with values like 2421 and 2511, but it’s all blown out. You’d be wasting your time.

Things start to look a little more promising from Thursday the 13th. The morning shows a 5ft SSW swell at 16 seconds – that’s a long-period groundswell with good energy (2752). The wind is light from the NE, which is cross-shore, so it’s not perfect but it’s clean. The quality is only marginal, though, thanks to tide or something. The afternoon gets messier again.

Friday the 14th improves a touch. Morning has a light NNW cross-offshore breeze with a 5ft SW swell (2045). The sets are clean. Afternoon is a bit more cross-shore, but still light. The swell is on the smaller side, but the reef should handle it.

The real standout for the near-term is Saturday the 15th of August morning. We’ve got a light W cross-offshore wind, a 4ft SW swell at 14 seconds, and moderate wave energy (809). The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions,” and it’s clean. This is the pick of the first week – small but clean, and the reef will shape it up nicely. The crowds can be a problem here sometimes, so get in early.

Sunday the 16th of August morning is also a beauty. A light NW offshore wind, 4ft SW swell at 13 seconds (827), and clean conditions. The afternoon stays clean with a light SW cross-offshore breeze. Good fun.

Monday the 17th of August morning is something special – glassy conditions with a 4ft E swell (524). That’s a short-period swell, but the glassy wind makes it appealing for a cheeky session.

After a bit of a lull, the second week fires up. Tuesday the 18th of August morning has a 6ft SW swell at 14 seconds (1448) with a light N cross-offshore breeze. The forecast says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers,” and it’s clean. That’s the best of the whole run.

From Wednesday the 19th, the swell gets bigger, but the winds are cross-offshore and clean. By Thursday the 20th, the swell jumps to 12ft from the ESE, which is big and a bit messy. Friday the 21st of August has a massive 20ft swell from the SE (10277 energy) – that’s only for the brave, and the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s fairly choppy. The quality is still marginal, but the energy is insane.

Saturday the 22nd of August morning has a 15ft E swell (8764) with a moderate WSW cross-offshore breeze, keeping it clean. That’s still a big day for experts only.

The very end of the window, Tuesday the 25th of August morning, looks promising again. A 10ft SW swell at 14 seconds (3510) with a light N cross-offshore breeze and clean conditions. The forecast says “excellent conditions for experienced surfers.”

So, my pick for the whole 16 days is Tuesday the 18th of August morning – that 6ft SW swell with clean, light winds and excellent quality. Saturday the 15th of August morning is a close second for a smaller, cleaner session. The big stuff from the 20th onwards is for the heavies only, and the winds are a mixed bag. Stay glassy, you legends.

Rusty

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