Middles/Generals Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s talk about the surf ahead for the next couple of weeks. We’ve got one spot on the radar here: Middles/Generals. It’s an intermediate wave, fairly consistent, and exposed to the ESE direction. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year—nothing out of the ordinary, so no need to dig out the thick suit just yet.

Right now, we’re in a bit of a quiet spell. The first several days are a write-off. Tuesday 11th August kicks off with a fresh cross-onshore ENE breeze at 19 mph, bumping up a 5 ft ENE swell, but the period is short at 7 seconds and the wave energy is weak (425). The call is poor surf, and it stays that way through the rest of the week. Through Wednesday and Thursday, the wind stays fresh from the ENE, 22 mph, cross-shore, with a mix of short-period swells from the S and ENE, and moderate energy readings (500–900 range). Friday 14th gets worse—strong breeze up to 25 mph, lumpy cross-chop, and a 6 ft ENE swell that’s too sloppy. Saturday 15th is similar: strong ENE cross-shore winds, 25 mph, with a 7 ft short-period swell, energy climbing to 1023, but still messy.

Sunday 16th August is the first real flicker. The morning shows an 8 ft ENE swell with a period of 11 seconds, and while the wind is a strong 28 mph from the NNE, it’s cross-offshore and the wave comment says “clean.” The energy is strong at 1677, but the surf is still marginal at best. That afternoon, the wind jumps to 31 mph near gale, and the whole thing is blown out. Monday 17th sees onshore SE and SSE winds, 25 mph and 19 mph, with a 8 ft ENE swell—energy up to 2429—but it’s poor.

Then we hit a dry patch. Tuesday 18th August has a small 6 ft NE swell with light breeze at 6 mph from the ESE, onshore, but the period is a short 9 seconds and energy is moderate (603). It’s rated marginal. After that, from Wednesday 19th through to Friday 21st, the wind is back to fresh ENE and NE, cross-shore, and the swell drops to 3–5 ft, mostly short period (7–8 seconds), with weak energy. The surf is poor.

The best window in the whole outlook is a bit of a stretch. Saturday 22nd August morning has a 5 ft ENE swell, 7-second period, moderate energy (622), but the wind is a moderate 16 mph from the ENE, cross-shore. The waves are less than clean, but it’s the most rideable we’ve seen. That afternoon, 6 ft ENE swell, 7 seconds, energy 709, same wind. It’s not great, but it’s the pick of a bad bunch. Sunday 23rd August morning has a 3 ft SSW swell, period 15 seconds, energy 1023, but the wind is fresh ENE at 19 mph, cross-shore, lumpy—still poor.

From Monday 24th August onward, we’re back to fresh ENE cross-shore winds, 22 mph, with 6–6 ft short-period swells, energy around 700–800. Tuesday 25th is a little 2 ft SSW swell, 16-second period, but cross-onshore wind. Wednesday 26th August morning has a 3 ft S swell, 15-second period, strong energy at 1135, but the wind is fresh ENE cross-shore again, lumpy. It’s marginal at best.

If I had to pick a standout, it’s Saturday 22nd August. The swell is 5 ft from the ENE, which is close to the optimum direction for this break, and the wind is a moderate cross-shore—not clean, but it’s the most consistent option. The energy is moderate (622), and the size is manageable for intermediates. But keep your expectations low. The first week is a total washout, and the second week offers only fleeting moments. For now, the best advice is to watch the forecasts and hope the wind shifts.

Rusty.

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