Manly Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at this Manly stretch for the next couple of weeks.

Gotta be honest, the start of this is a real slow grind. From Sunday the 12th right through to Tuesday the 15th, we’re looking at tiny, weak, and messy conditions. The wave energy is super low, starting at just 104 on Sunday morning, and it just drops off from there. The swell is barely there, and while the cross-off wind is keeping the surface clean, there’s nothing to actually ride. It’s pretty much flat for any real surfing. You’ll be waiting a few days before anything worth paddling for shows up.

The first real sign of life hits on Wednesday the 15th, but it’s a serious one. The swell jumps to 10ft from the south, with a short period of 9 seconds, and the combined energy is a massive 1247. That’s a lot of raw, chunky power. The wind is a strong cross-off, so it’s not a total mess, but at this size it’s strictly for the well-equipped, experienced crew. Beginners and intermediates should stay on the beach. The water temp is right around 65°, which is pretty normal for this time of year.

The middle of the week gets a bit messy. Thursday the 16th is a washout with strong onshore wind and a choppy 7ft swell. Not worth the drive.

We start to see a real window open on Friday the 17th. The swell drops to a much more manageable 6ft from the east, the period stretches to 9 seconds, and the wind eases off to a light breeze. The combined energy is a solid 593, and it’s going to be clean. This is where the surf starts to get good again.

Saturday the 18th keeps the momentum going with a solid 6ft to just over 6ft east swell. The morning has some rain, but the wind is light and the waves are clean. The afternoon clears up with a gentle breeze and a combined energy of 658. This is a solid, fun day for a confident surfer.

Now, the standout. Sunday the 19th is the one you want to block out. We’ve got a 8ft east swell with a nice long period of 11 seconds, giving it real groundswell power. The combined energy is a serious 1758. The real kicker is the wind in the morning – it’s glassy. Dead calm. That means perfect, clean conditions. This is a proper session, but at 8ft, it’s expert territory. The afternoon gets a light cross-onshore, so get out there early.

Monday the 20th still holds some size (just under 7ft) from the east-northeast, but the wind swings around to a cross-shore, which will put a bit of a ruffle on the face. It’s still surfable for the experienced, but not the same quality as Sunday.

After that, the swell slowly backs off through the rest of the week. Tuesday the 21st has a clean 5ft with a light offshore wind, making for a nice, easy option if you’re not after the big stuff. Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd are small and average, with ordinary conditions. Nothing to get excited about.

The final weekend of the 26th and 27th looks like a return to smaller, weaker swell. The wind is clean on Sunday morning, but the combined energy is down to 404, and the waves are only around 4ft. It’s surfable, but it’s very ordinary.

So, to sum it up: the first few days are a total dud. The best surf on offer is without a doubt that glassy Sunday morning (the 19th) with the big, long-period east swell. That’s your one to aim for. Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th are solid runners-up. Everything else is small, average, or messy.

Rusty.

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