Middleton Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break this down in feet and miles per hour for the Middleton Beach outlook.

First thing’s first: the first few days are a complete bust. From Thursday the 27th of August through Sunday the 30th, you’re looking at about 4 days of rubbish. On the 27th, we’ve got a 10 ft swell from the SW, but it’s being hammered by a cross-onshore wind at 19 mph, with a combined energy reading of 3429 – just a big messy washout. Too big for beginners, and the quality is shot. Friday and Saturday aren’t any better with onshore and cross-onshore winds. Sunday the 30th is still a dud, with 10 ft swells and cross-onshore breeze. Don’t bother.

Finally, a chance. Monday the 31st of August morning sees the first real window. A clean 8 ft SW groundswell with a period of 16 seconds and 2953 combined energy. The wind goes offshore from the west at 16 mph. That’s clean, lined-up surf for experienced surfers. That’s a standout. The water temp is 64°F, which is a touch warmer than average for this time of year. The afternoon gets too windy – a strong breeze from the west at 25 mph – so get it early. Tuesday morning (1st Sept) is still rideable with 7 ft swell, but not as clean.

Then we hit the big time. Thursday the 3rd of September is the best of the run. Thursday morning hits with a massive 15 ft SW swell at 14 seconds. That’s a massive 6593 combined energy – serious, serious power. Winds are light cross-off from the WSW at just 6 mph, making it clean. This is for experts only. 15 ft is way over the 8 ft mark for experienced riders only. The afternoon stays clean with light airs and an 11 ft swell. Friday the 4th is also excellent with 11 ft SSW, offshore winds of 9 mph from the WNW, and 4016 combined energy. Another day for the experienced crew.

After that, the swell drops and the wind picks up, but we get a few cleaner days. On Tuesday the 8th of September, the morning is glassy. Light offshore from the NW at 3 mph, and a 7 ft SSW groundswell with a long 15-second period. That’s a nice 1961 combined energy. The wind state is “glassy” – doesn’t get cleaner than that. That’s a solid, smaller option for a fun session without the monster sizes.

The rest of the second week is less certain. Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th have manageable 5 ft to 8 ft swells with clean conditions, but nothing that stands out. By Monday the 7th, it’s small – 3 ft – not worth the paddle out.

One thing: Middleton Beach is an inconsistent, very sheltered spot, and it’s usually a beginner break in smaller sizes. When the swell jumps over 8 ft (like on the 3rd and 4th), it’s strictly for the experts. Those long period groundswells (15-19 seconds) we see on the 29th and 30th will hold up better on reefs and points, but for a beach break, they can break a bit straight, so watch out.

Bottom line: the first 4 days are a wash. The standout windows are Monday the 31st of August morning, the big days on Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th of September, and a smaller, glassy session on Tuesday the 8th of September morning. Experts, mark those mid-week days.

Rusty.

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