Middles/Generals Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Middles/Generals.

Straight up, the outlook for the next two and a half weeks is a bit of a tough one. We’re talkin’ a solid 16-day window, but the first few days are a clean miss. The swell is tiny and the wind is cross-shore, blowing at 15 to 19 mph, creating a lumpy cross-chop. There’s really nothing to get excited about until we get deeper into the run. The water temp is sitting at 80°F which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The surf starts to show a pulse from Saturday the 8th of August. We see the swell pushing up to 5ft from the ENE, but that period is a short 6 to 7 seconds. The combined swell energy is moderate (314) and will build through the weekend, hitting moderate-to-strong levels (624) by Sunday afternoon. But honestly, the wind is still a strong cross-shore from the ENE at 22 mph, chopping it all up. It’s not the clean, peeling wave you want to paddle into. This setup, with that onshore cross-chop and wind, is more interesting for the kite crew than us paddle surfers.

The energy stays up through Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th, with 5ft to 5ft ENE swell, but those short periods and that persistent cross-wind keep the quality poor. The swell does start to switch direction around the 12th of August, with a 3ft swell from the south pushing in with a very long period of 18 seconds and combined energy of 864 (strong). That’s a proper groundswell. But the cross-shore wind is still blowing 22 mph, making it messy. That long period at a beach break often means the waves break too straight and fat, so it’s not a standout.

The real standout window actually looks to be the second week, from the 14th of August. The swell height is climbing into the 7ft to 8ft range from the ENE, with combined energy through the roof (700-879, very strong). At 8ft, that’s expert territory, too big for beginners. The short period (7-8 seconds) keeps it a bit roly-poly and the wind is still a strong cross-shore at 25-28 mph. This is a rowdy, messy, high-energy window. The crowds here are often around, so expect company if you’re keen, but it’s not going to be clean.

The best bet of the whole run? If I had to pick one, it’s the morning of the 20th of August. The swell drops to 5ft with a short period of 7 seconds, but the combined energy is a more manageable 222 (moderate). The wind is still cross-shore, but it’s a lighter 22 mph. It’s not perfect, but it’s the closest to a surfable day we get. The rest of the second week, from the 21st, you see the swell pulse again but the quality just doesn’t lock in.

So, the takeaway? There’s plenty of power in the water, but the wind is the enemy here. We’ve got a 16-day window with no true glassy, offshore days. The first few days are a write-off. The 8th to the 13th are messy. The 14th to the 17th are big, strong, and messy. The 20th is the quietest, cleanest window. Don’t expect perfection, but there’s always a chance the forecasts shift.

Rusty.

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