Middleton Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks are going to test your patience if you’re chasing waves at Middleton Beach. This stretch is very sheltered, so it takes a lot to get it firing, and for the most part, the ocean’s going to be a mess of cross-shore wind and lumpy conditions. But there are a couple of windows where it could all come together, and one morning in particular that looks like it’ll be well worth setting the alarm for.

The first real hope doesn’t show up until Sunday the 20th. Before that, we’re looking at a week of frustration. From Friday the 11th right through to the morning of Friday the 18th, it’s mostly marginal at best. There’s some swell pushing through, around 3ft to 5ft, but the winds are usually ruining it, coming cross-off or cross-on, and the description is mostly "marginal" or "poor". There is a brief moment on Friday morning the 18th when the breeze drops to light and it’s clean, with a 4ft SW swell, but it’s still small and the energy is weak (1082). It’s surfable, but you won’t be bragging about it.

Saturday the 19th is a write-off. A strong SW wind is hammering the coast at 25 mph, the swell jumps to 13ft, but the surface is chopped up and messy. That’s not paddle surfing; that’s kite-surfing conditions. You’d want to be on a board with a kite, not a leash.

Then comes the standout. Sunday morning the 20th. This is the one to circle. The swell is holding at a solid 13ft from the SW with a 15-second period, the wind has swung offshore from the west at 12 mph, and the water is clean. The combined energy is a massive 15890. This is going to be a proper, powerful swell. Now, let me be clear: 13ft is not for the faint-hearted. That’s expert territory. It’s a long-period groundswell, and at a beach setup like this, those long-period swells can tend to break straight and close out. This is a high-performance wave for experienced surfers only. The crowds? They’ll be out there, that’s for sure, so expect some company. The water temp is 63°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you might not need the thickest suit. Sunday afternoon drops off a bit with a cross-off breeze, but it’s still substantial. This is the best on offer, period.

The following week settles down but stays inconsistent. Monday the 21st has a few waves in the 10ft to 15ft range but the wind is cross-shore, making it tricky. Tuesday the 22nd has some size but it’s onshore and lumpy. The next real highlight is Wednesday morning the 23rd: a 7ft S swell at 12 seconds, light offshore wind, and the call is "very good" surf. It’s a more manageable size, and that offshore breeze makes it clean. It won’t have the power of Sunday, but for a more average surfer, this could be the better option. After that, it fades out. Thursday the 24th has a tiny window of clean 4ft surf in the morning, but it’s ordinary. Then Friday the 25th brings in another 11ft SW swell, but the wind is onshore from the southeast, making it messy, and Saturday the 26th is more of the same, with onshore winds and lumpy conditions.

So, bottom line: if you’re an experienced surfer, Sunday morning the 20th is your day. Unreal power, clean conditions, just be ready for a full-on paddle. If you want something less intense, Wednesday the 23rd looks like a solid, clean session. Otherwise, it’s a lot of waiting around for not much. That’s the way it goes sometimes.

Rusty.

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