Manly Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Manly over the next couple of weeks.

Truth be told, it’s a bit of a tough stretch ahead. We’ve got a solid run of days where the conditions just aren’t coming together for a proper paddle. The first real opportunity to get wet doesn’t arrive until Thursday morning, the 20th of August, and even then, it’s nothing to write home about. From the start of the period right through to the 19th, it’s mostly a write-off with poor surf quality and ordinary conditions. The wind is either too strong, cross, or onshore, and the swell is just messy.

Let’s break it down.

Thursday morning, 20th August – Manly itself is the first spot that gets a tick. It’s a beginner-friendly point break, and it’s fairly consistent. The wind swings light offshore from the SW, which is a major positive – that’ll keep the face clean. The swell is a small 4ft out of the E, with a period of 7 seconds. That’s short period, so the waves will be a bit lumpy and less powerful, but for a beginner, it’s rideable. The combined energy is weak (145), so you’re not looking at any punch. The water is a bit colder than average for this time of year, sitting at 62°F with a -3°F anomaly, so you’ll want a decent wetsuit. It’s a start, but it’s a very ordinary session.

Friday morning, 21st August – The wind is light but cross-onshore from the N at 6 mph, and the swell is the same 4ft from the ENE. Still small, still short period (8 seconds). The energy is still weak (200). It’s a similar story, but with the wind angle not doing us any favours. It’s surfable, but not clean.

Sunday morning, 23rd August – Now we get a bit of a tease. The wind cranks offshore from the SW at 19 mph, which is a fresh breeze, but the swell is only 4ft from the ENE with a 10-second period. The combined energy is just moderate (270). It’s clean, but the swell is too small to make it a standout. The wind is probably too strong for good shape anyway.

Monday, 24th August – This is the one to circle. The morning has a solid 7ft swell from the S, with a 10-second period, and a fresh offshore from the SSW at 19 mph. The combined energy is strong (961). That’s a proper groundswell with good energy. The wind will keep it clean. The afternoon holds the same 7ft from the S, but the period stretches to 11 seconds, and the energy jumps to very strong (1968). The wind is a cross-off from the S at 16 mph. This is the best on offer across the whole period. The swell is a bit big for beginners (over 5ft), but for anyone with a bit of experience, it’s going to be a cracker. The long period (11 seconds) means the waves will have proper shape and power, and the longer gaps between sets will make paddling out easier. Expect crowds, as it’s often a busy spot.

Tuesday, 25th August – The swell drops back to 4ft from the S, with a 10-second period and a light offshore from the SW. Clean again, but much smaller. The energy is weak (284). It’s a morning session for a quiet, easy paddle, but nothing special.

Wednesday, 26th August – A tiny 2ft from the S, with a 10-second period, and glassy conditions. The energy is very weak (93). The only appeal is the glassy water, but you’ll be scratching for waves.

Thursday, 27th August – Glassy again in the morning, with a 3ft swell from the SSW, 7-second period. The energy is very weak (175). It’s a clean, small window for a longboard if you’re desperate.

So, the standout is without a doubt Monday, 24th August. That’s the day the S swell hits, the wind is offshore, and the energy is pumping. It’s a proper surf day, just be ready for the crowd. The rest of the window is either small, windy, or ordinary. The forecast is more reliable for the near-term, so the Monday call looks solid, but the longer-range stuff into the second week is more of a wait-and-see.

Rusty.

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