Merimbula Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the Merimbula Bar stretch.

Overall, the 16-day outlook is a slow grind. The first week is mostly flat with tiny, weak waves, and the wind teases us with some glassy mornings but the swell just isn't there. The better energy doesn't arrive until the very end of the month and into the first days of September, but even then, it’s not a world-beater.

Starting now, Thursday the 20th of August, it’s a tough one. The morning is cloudy with a tiny 3 ft NE swell pushing in on a short 6-second period. The combined energy is a weak 68, so there’s barely any push. The wind is offshore from the north at 9 mph, which keeps the surface clean, but it’s just too small to get excited about. By the afternoon, the swell bumps up to 5 ft from the NE, with the energy climbing to a moderate 193. The wind switches to a cross-off from the NW at 6 mph, making it rideable, but the conditions are still ordinary. The water is a touch warmer than normal, sitting at 61°F.

The rest of the week through to the 27th of August is a real snoozer. Swell heights hover around 0.7 ft to 2 ft, with periods under 10 seconds, and the combined energy rarely cracks 100. There are a few glassy windows, like Friday the 21st morning with a 2 ft swell and no wind, but the waves are too gutless to surf. The 23rd of August has a completely glassy morning with 1.0 ft waves, but again, nothing to paddle for. This stretch is a write-off.

We hit a bit of a turning point on Saturday the 29th of August. The morning brings a 5 ft ENE swell with a 8-second period, and the combined energy jumps to a solid 244. The wind is offshore from the NNE at 12 mph, which will groom the surface nicely. It's surfable, but the conditions are still ordinary – the period is a bit short and the quality isn't pristine. The afternoon sees the swell push to 5 ft and energy to 354, but the wind cranks up to 19 mph, making it a cross-off mess. Not the best.

Sunday the 30th of August is a better shout. The morning is glassy with a light westerly breeze, and the swell holds at 4 ft from the ENE with a 9-second period. The energy is a moderate 259. The afternoon stays clean with a cross-off NE breeze at 6 mph, and the waves are consistent at 4 ft. This is probably the most reliable surf in the first week and a half – clean, not too big, and the Bar will be holding shape.

The best on offer, however, looks to be Thursday the 3rd of September. The morning has a 4 ft ENE swell rolling in with a nice 11-second period, which is a proper groundswell. The combined energy is a strong 409. The wind is offshore from the NNE at 6 mph, giving us clean, lined-up waves. The Bar is a river mouth, so this longer-period swell should wrap in nicely. The afternoon stays clean with a cross-off breeze, but the morning is the standout. This is the one to circle. The 4 ft swell is solid for the spot, but it’s not too big for a confident intermediate.

The 4th of September offers a smaller 3 ft ENE swell with a 10-second period and 235 energy, but it gets sloppy in the afternoon as the wind swings cross-on from the SE. The 2nd of September shows a 3 ft ENE swell with an 11-second period, giving 276 energy, but the wind is a bit stronger cross-off. It’s marginal.

So, the best window is the morning of Thursday the 3rd of September. The 29th and 30th of August are the next best, but the wind is a bit stronger. The rest is a lot of waiting for tiny waves. For this area, it’s not surprising to see these flat spells.

Rusty.

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