Manly-North Steyne Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, and I’m looking at the next couple of weeks for Manly-North Steyne.

Mate, I gotta be straight with you, the next 16 days are looking pretty grim for any decent surf. The forecast shows a long stretch of tiny, weak waves. The combined swell energy is barely registering, often in the teens or single digits, which tells you there’s just nothing pushing through. The water is sitting at 62°F which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll need a decent spring suit.

There’s a noticeable gap right from the start. From Saturday the 8th all the way through to Monday the 11th, the conditions are just poor. The swell is tiny, coming from the ENE, and the wind is either onshore, cross-shore, or just messy. The wave comment says “poor surf conditions” for all of those days, and the scores are a flat zero. It’s a real blank run.

Tuesday the 11th morning offers a tiny glimmer. The swell is only 3 ft from the ENE with a period of 9 seconds, and the combined energy is 106 (moderate). The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the WNW, making it surfable. The wave comment says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s not a standout, but it’s the only real window for a paddle. The wave state is clean, so you could get a few weak ones if you’re desperate. But the swell is too small and weak to get excited about.

After that, it drops off again. From Wednesday the 12th onward, the swell drops to 2 ft or less, the energy collapses, and the wind is generally poor. The combined energy stays well under 100, often in the 20s or 30s which is weak. The periods are short, between 5 and 10 seconds, meaning it’s just windswell with no real power. The wave comment across the board is “poor surf conditions” right through to the end of the outlook on Sunday the 23rd.

There is one odd moment on Thursday the 20th of August. The morning shows a tiny 2 ft swell from the NNE with a period of just 4 seconds, and… the wind is glassy. The wave state is “glassy.” But the swell is too small and the period is too short to form any real wave. It’s a flat, glassy morning. Not for surfing.

So, the honest truth is there’s nothing to recommend here. Not a single standout. It’s a long, quiet stretch. Sometimes that’s just how it goes for this beach. The forecast can change, but right now, I’d leave the board at home.

Rusty.

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