Mondos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks at Mondos are looking pretty flat and uninspiring. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak swell and mostly cross-shore breezes, so if you’re hanging out for a proper wave, you might be waiting a while. This isn’t a total disaster—just a classic quiet spell where the ocean’s taking a nap. Don’t get too down about it, though; these lulls never last forever.

The surf action, such as it is, starts right now on Monday morning, August 17th. We’re looking at a tiny 2ft swell from the SSW with a 14-second period. The energy is weak, sitting at 162, and it’s cross-shore with a light breeze. It’s pretty poor out there—not worth rushing for. The water temp is a balmy 70°, which is a whopping 6° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a real standout—unusually warm water, so if you do get in, you won’t need a thick suit.

The rest of the first week stays in the same rut. Tuesday and Wednesday bring slightly smaller waves, around 2ft to 2ft, with similar weak energy readings in the 120s to 190s. Winds are light and cross-shore, so it’s not messy, just flat. By Thursday, August 20th, the swell drops further to 2ft and the energy falls to 111-123. Friday and Saturday are even smaller, with 1ft waves and energy readings dipping below 100—that’s about as weak as it gets. Everything is marked as poor surf conditions, so don’t expect any hidden gems.

We roll through the weekend and into the start of next week with the same story. Sunday, August 23rd, has a bit of a pulse at 1ft to 2ft, but the energy is still low. Monday, August 24th, is the same. There’s a brief moment on Monday afternoon where the wind turns slightly cross-offshore, giving a cleaner look, but the swell is still only 1ft with a 17-second period—that’s a long-period swell, but with so little size, it’s not doing anything for us. The energy is a meagre 101.

The middle of the second week stays flat, with 2ft waves and light cross-shore winds. Nothing changes until we get to Saturday, August 29th. That’s the first hint of a pulse. The morning shows 2ft from the SSW with a 17-second period, and the energy jumps to 261—that’s a noticeable step up from the weak stuff we’ve been seeing. Still, it’s described as poor surf, so it’s not breaking clean. Sunday, August 30th, is the only day that even gets a marginal call, with 3ft swell and energy at 273. That’s the best we’ve got, but it’s still small and the wind is cross-shore.

We carry that slightly bigger but still underwhelming swell into the first days of September. Monday, August 31st, has 2ft with energy around 225, and Tuesday, September 1st, is similar at 2ft. The energy is climbing, but the waves are still small and the wind isn't helping. All of this is still a long way from being any kind of standout.

So, if you’re looking for the best of a bad bunch, Sunday, August 30th, is the day to keep an eye on. Even then, we’re talking about chest-high waves at best, and you’ll want to be comfortable with a bit of cross-shore chop. It’s not going to be a classic, but it’s the closest thing we’ve got. Mondos is a fairly consistent sandbar, and it does handle a west swell okay, but with the SSW direction, it’s not optimal. Crowds are sometimes an issue, but on a day like this, you’ll probably have it to yourself.

Keep the expectations low for the next fortnight. If you’re desperate for a paddle, the warm water is a bonus, but for real surfing, you might be better off waiting for the next proper pulse. Forecasts can change, so don’t write it off completely, but as it stands, this is a flat spell.

Rusty.

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