Manly Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on offer for Manly over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there are a couple of windows that’ll get your heart pumping.

We’re starting off slow, real slow. The first few days are a write-off for anything decent. Sunday the 6th has some waist-high swell at 4 ft from the SSW, but that 16 mph southwesterly is making a mess of it. The combined energy is weak at 163, so it’s a big “no thanks.” Monday the 7th morning is a tease: the swell bumps up to 5 ft from the south, but the real story is that glassy, dead-calm wind. It’s gonna be clean, but the energy is still moderate (297), and the 8-second period means it’s pretty weak and wind-affected quickly. Not a standout, just a chance to get wet.

Now, the first real standout comes on Tuesday the 8th. The morning session at Manly is the pick of the whole forecast. We’ve got a solid 8 ft south swell rolling in, with a moderate 9-second period. The combined energy is pumping at 1287 – that’s strong wave energy. But the real kicker is the 12 mph southerly wind blowing cross-offshore, keeping the faces clean. This is expert territory, though; 8 ft is too big for beginners. The crowd factor is “often” here, so expect a crew out, but for the experienced surfer, this is the one to circle.

After that, it gets a bit chaotic. Wednesday the 9th has a 5 ft swell with a clean 16 mph offshore, but the energy drops right back to 351. Thursday the 10th sees another spike to 10 ft, with a 10-second period and massive energy (1739), but the wind is cross-offshore, not true offshore. It’s going to be a beast of a paddle and only for the experts again.

Friday the 11th morning is a nice little gem. The swell settles to 7 ft from the south, 10-second period, and the combined energy is a solid 945. The wind is a light 6 mph offshore from the SW, promising clean, lined-up waves. This is a much more manageable size for a wider range of surfers, and the conditions are good. It’s not the biggest, but it’s the best balance of size and quality.

Saturday the 12th morning is pure magic for the glassy conditions. The swell is 7 ft, 10-second period, with 990 energy, and the wind is dead flat – zero mph. Absolutely glassy. This is a surfer’s dream for clean, powerful lines. Again, it’s a big size, so not for the groms, but if you can handle it, this is an epic session.

The second week drops off a cliff. From Sunday the 13th onward, the swell fades and the wind turns onshore or cross-shore. There’s a pulse of 7 ft on Tuesday the 15th, but the combined energy is high (1734), and the wind is cross-shore, making it choppy. By the time we hit the 17th and beyond, it’s all small, weak, and messy. The run from the 13th to the 21st is a long stretch of poor conditions, with energy dropping into the double digits (95 on the 19th). The water temp is about normal for this time of year at 64°.

So, to sum it up: Tuesday the 8th morning is the big, powerful standout for experts, and Friday the 11th morning and Saturday the 12th morning are the best all-rounders for clean, quality surf. The rest is a waiting game. Stay frothing.

- Rusty

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