Mooloolaba Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. Looking at the next couple of weeks for our stretch of coast, it’s not going to be one for the highlight reel. We’ve got a lot of small, junky surf on the cards, with a few windows that might just get the heart rate up if you’re desperate for a paddle. The overall pattern is pretty weak, with the swell direction sitting mostly in the east and southeast—not quite lining up with what our local spots want. There’s also a bit of a temperature story to kick off with: the water at Mooloolaba is sitting at 68° F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want the boots or a thicker suit for the first few sessions.

The first real chance to get wet doesn’t come until Tuesday the 18th. Monday the 17th is a write-off with poor conditions and a cross-off wind that’ll just make a mess of things. Tuesday morning sees a 6ft swell from the ESE, but it’s short-period stuff at 8 seconds, and the wind is straight cross, leaving a chop on top. It’s marginal at best. The afternoon might clean up slightly with a 7ft swell, but the wind is still cross-off. Not great.

Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th are similar stories—6ft to 7ft of short-period ESE swell, with a gentle cross-off breeze. The energy climbs up a bit, but it’s still just not doing it for us. These are those “surfable but very ordinary” days. You’ll get some waves if you’re keen, but you won’t be telling your mates about it.

Now, here’s the one small window that might actually be worth an early alarm. Saturday morning the 22nd. We’ve got the swell dropping to 3ft, but the wind goes glassy—absolutely dead calm. The swell is still short-period at 7 seconds, but a glassy surface on a beach and reef setup like Mooloolaba (Sunshine Coast) makes everything feel twice as good. It won't be big, but the lack of wind will make it rideable. Just don't expect much push.

After that, it’s a long, dry spell. From Sunday the 23rd through to Friday the 28th, the swell drops right off—we’re talking 2ft to 4ft junk. The wind is mostly cross-off or light, but there’s no energy behind it. This is a proper flat spell. You’re better off doing anything else.

Then, a glimmer. Near the end of the window, on Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th, the swell bumps back up to 5ft to 5ft but from the NE. This is a better direction for the break, and with light winds and clean conditions in the mornings, those two mornings could finally offer a few proper waves. The period is still short at 6-7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit crumbly, but at least there’s some size. Mark those dates in your calendar, but don’t hold your breath—it’s a week and a half away and forecasts can change.

So, overall, we’ve got a whole lot of nothing for the next week and a bit. The standout, if you can call it that, is the glassy Saturday morning the 22nd for a grovel, and the NE swell on the 29th and 30th for a slightly more substantial session. If you’ve got a longboard, you might squeeze out the small clean days. Otherwise, it’s a good time to check your gear and wait it out.

Rusty.

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