Margate Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for our stretch of coast.

Honestly, the whole 16-day window is a real struggle. We’re looking at a long, long run of pretty ordinary surf. From now through just about the end of August, the swell is tiny and the wind’s often in the wrong quarter. There’s a stretch from the 15th right through to the 21st of August where you’d be lucky to find anything rideable. After that, we see a slight bump in size around the 22nd, but the wind stays messy. The best we can really say is that from the 22nd through to the 30th, there are moments where it might be worth a paddle, but it’s never going to be epic.

The first real chance to wet a line comes on Monday morning, 17th August at Margate Pier. The swell is a tiny 3 ft out of the SSE. It’s a short period wind swell at 6 seconds, so it won’t have much punch. The good news is we’ve got a WSW cross-offshore breeze at 15 km/h, which will keep the surface clean. The combined swell energy is weak, only 54. Water temp is 78°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. This is really a session for the patient, honest. The crowds are sometimes here, but on a day like this, you might have it to yourself.

The next little window is Tuesday morning, 18th August. Still small at 2 ft from the SSE and 7 seconds. But we get a N cross-offshore at 10 km/h, so it’ll be clean again. Energy is low at 37. It’s a long way from pumping, but if you’re desperate, it’s about the best we’ve got.

Now, fast forward to Saturday, 22nd August morning – we finally get a little more water moving. Swell bumps up to 3 ft from the E with a 6 second period. The wind though is a E cross-onshore at 25 km/h, which will put a chop on it. The afternoon is similar, 3 ft from the E with a messy ENE cross-shore at 25 km/h. Energy is 74, still weak.

The standout? If I had to pick *one* moment in this whole forecast, it’s the Thursday afternoon, 20th August. It’s not the biggest, with only 1 ft of SE swell at 8 seconds, but it’s glassy. The wind goes glass from the S at 5 km/h. That’s rare, and for a small, clean afternoon micro-session on a longboard, it’s your best shot. Combined energy is a tiny 21, so don't expect to get worked.

After that, it’s more of the same. Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th are back to tiny 1 ft swells with long periods (11-12 seconds) from the SE, which might wrap in a little better, but the size is just so small. Wednesday 26th morning has a N cross-offshore at 15 km/h, giving clean conditions on a 1 ft (45 energy), but you’ll be scratching.

Bottom line: there’s no proper surf to get excited about. The swell is too small and the wind is rarely cooperating. Keep the board in the car, but don’t hold your breath. If you absolutely have to paddle out, the glassy window on the 20th or the clean mornings on the 17th and 18th are your only real chances.

Rusty.

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