Middles/Generals Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get stuck into it. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty average for Middles/Generals, to be honest. There’s a bit of a flat spell on the cards for most of it, so don’t get too fired up just yet. We’ve got some energy early on, but the winds are going to be messy. Then we go into a real lull for a string of days before a possible kick of new groundswell arrives right at the end of the forecast window.

First up, Monday afternoon the 7th there’s some push in the water, with swell around 5ft from the East and a period of 12 seconds. There’s a real good amount of energy behind it – the combined energy is reading 1248, which is solid. But, it’s not going to be pretty. We’ve got a risk of thunderstorms and a fresh ESE breeze blowing 35 km/h, which is going to mess things up. The word is poor surf conditions, and that’s what it’ll look like – lumpy and bumpy. Not one for the log.

Tuesday the 8th sees a bump in size early. We’re looking at 8ft from the SSW, with a period of 10 seconds and energy jumping up to 2259. That’s a powerful chunk of ocean, but again the wind is not our friend. A fresh, cross-onshore SSW breeze at 30 km/h will have it blown out and lumpy. Poor conditions again. As the day goes on, it drops to 6ft from the ENE but the wind swings to a cross-shore SW at 20 km/h, so still no good.

Wednesday the 9th the swell backs right off to under 3ft from the SSW, and while the winds are lighter, it’s still cross-shore and the period drops right out. It’s just not doing anything for us.

Then we hit the doldrums. From Thursday the 10th all the way through to the 17th, it’s mostly small, weak, and blown out. Swell heights bounce around 1ft to 5ft but the energy is weak, with combined energy readings mostly in the low hundreds or even below. The winds are constantly cross-shore and onshore, which means crap. For a whole week, the only thing worth saying is that it’s going to be small. We’re talking a week of knee-high slop if you’re lucky. If you’re into kitesurfing, maybe you’ll have some fun, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a write-off.

Things start to look a little more interesting from the 17th. A new, longer-period SSW groundswell starts to show up. On Thursday the 17th we get 3ft with a period of 16 seconds and energy around 415-537. It’s small, but that long period is something. The winds are still not great, but it’s a sign of things to come.

Now, the standout – and it’s a conditional one – is early on Tuesday the 22nd of September. The forecast shows 2ft of SSW swell with a 14-second period. The energy is still low at 244, but the wind is forecast to be glassy. Absolutely glassy, 5 km/h and off the ENE. That’s the cleanest we’ll see it. It’s small, make no mistake, but if that glassy morning eventuates, you’ll be surfing clean little lines with no one out. It’s a promise more than a guarantee, but it’s the best offer on the table.

The water temp is sitting at 81°, which is about average for this time of year, so no need for a hood.

So, there you have it. A week of junk, then a flicker of hope at the end. Keep an eye on that Tuesday the 22nd – it might just be worth the wait.

Rusty.

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