Manly Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag heading our way over the next couple of weeks. The first few days are pretty ordinary, but there’s some real light at the end of the tunnel if you’re patient.

To start, it’s flat and forgettable. Tuesday the 14th is a write-off – tiny 1.0ft to 0.7ft slop with a moderate cross-off breeze, just not worth paddling out for. Wednesday the 15th, though, things wake up. The morning brings a solid 8ft south swell with a moderate offshore wind, and the wave energy is pumping at 1155. That’s a powerful, clean push that’ll have Manly (point) looking proper. The water temp is sitting at 64°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there. This swell is a bit on the bigger side for beginners, but for anyone with a bit of experience, it’s a standout window. The period is 10 seconds, so decent groundswell rhythm, but that afternoon the wind swings cross-off and the size drops to 7ft, so the morning is the pick.

Thursday the 16th is still bumpy with a fresh cross-off breeze and 7ft, but the energy is dropping off (677) and the period shortens to 8 seconds, making it a bit of a messy, fat wave. Friday the 17th fades fast, with rain showers and a piddly 3ft.

We hit a dry spell Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th – marginal, average conditions at best. Then Monday the 20th brings a little relief. The morning has 6ft from the east-northeast with a near-slick cross-off breeze and a combined energy of 757. The afternoon turns glassy, with 6ft and a light north-easterly, and that’s a proper welcome sight. It’s clean, but not huge.

Now, here’s the real untold benefit of waiting. The standout for the whole forecast period is Wednesday the 23rd. The morning rolls in with a clean 7ft east swell, 12-second period, and a gentle offshore from the south-west. Combined energy is sitting at 1084, so it’s a strong, solid swell. The afternoon holds size with a light cross-off breeze. That’s the day to call in sick, no doubt. The following Thursday the 24th still has 6ft at 12 seconds, but the wind turns onshore by the afternoon, so morning is the go.

The second week settles into a more consistent, manageable run. From Friday the 24th through to Sunday the 27th, we see 5ft to 6ft east swell with long periods, which is promising for shape and power, but the wind is mostly cross-off or light, so it’s decent but not epic. The last few days, Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th, the swell drops back under 2ft, and it’s back to small, ordinary conditions.

So, bottom line: the first few days are a bust, but Wednesday the 15th morning gives you a taste of the good stuff, and Wednesday the 23rd is the absolute best on offer – clean, strong, and properly juicy. Don’t waste your energy on the rest.

Rusty.

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