Margaret River Mouth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Margaret River Mouth over the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, the first few days are a bit of a write-off. It’s frustrating because there’s swell on the table, but the wind and conditions are just not playing ball. Saturday afternoon, the 22nd, has a solid 4ft SW groundswell with a long 16-second period, and a combined energy of 776 (moderate), but a cross-shore breeze and a cross-chop make it messy. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 66°, which is about a degree and a half above average for this time of year. This pattern of poor surf hangs around through Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday – the wind stays cross or cross-onshore, and the lump gets worse. By Tuesday afternoon the 25th, the swell pushes to 6ft from the WSW, but with a fresh 22 mph cross-onshore, it’s just ugly.

We finally get a glimmer of hope on Wednesday morning, the 26th. A big 10ft WSW groundswell rolls in with a very long 18-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 4959 (very strong). That’s a powerful, clean-ish wave with only a light cross-onshore breeze. It’s still a bit raw, but it’s the first real standout – though at 10ft, this is strictly for experienced surfers only. The river mouth setup can handle this kind of long-period groundswell, but it can get a bit straight-running. The afternoon swings back to a cross-shore chop, so the morning window is the one.

Thursday the 27th cleans up nicely with a cross-offshore SSE breeze, and the swell drops to a more manageable 6ft–6ft from the SW with a 14-second period. The combined energy is still solid (1554 and 1170). The waves are clean, but the ratings are only marginal – it’s surfable, but not a standout.

Friday the 28th is small and weak, with the swell dropping to 4ft and energy falling to 387. Not worth a paddle.

Then we get a proper little gem on Saturday morning, the 29th. The wind goes offshore from the east at only 6 mph, and the swell is 4ft from the SW with a 16-second period and combined energy of 852 (moderate). The conditions are clean and the wave comment says “expect good surf conditions.” This is the best of the first week – a classic morning glass-off with a long-period groundswell. The river mouth will be working, and with an offshore breeze, it’ll be peeling nicely. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so keep that in mind.

Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st see the swell hanging around 5ft–6ft, but the wind swings back to cross or cross-on, so it’s only marginal.

Tuesday morning, the 1st of September, is another beauty. Flat calm, glassy conditions with no wind, and a 5ft WSW groundswell with a 15-second period. Combined energy is 874 (moderate). The wave comment again says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s a very clean, user-friendly morning for the confident beginner and intermediate alike.

The rest of the first week of September is a mix of cross-on chop and clean cross-off mornings, but nothing jumps out as a major standout until the 6th of September. Sunday morning the 6th brings a 10ft WSW groundswell with a 16-second period, combined energy of 4026 (very strong), and a gentle cross-offshore NNE breeze. The wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is the big one of the outlook – powerful, clean, and very solid. But it’s 16 days out, so while it’s promising, treat it as a long-range hope. At 10ft, only experts should be in the water.

So, if I’m picking the two true standouts: Saturday morning, the 29th of August, with that offshore glass-off and a clean 4ft groundswell, and Tuesday morning, the 1st of September, with the glassy calm and 5ft swell. The big one on the 6th of September is worth watching, but it’s a long way off.

Rusty.

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