Narrabeen-Alley Rights Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, breaking down the surf for Narrabeen-Alley Rights.

First off, the water temp is about 63°F, which is a touch cooler than the average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The outlook starts off slow. Friday the 7th has a tiny 1ft SSE swell, but with a clean cross-off breeze, so it’s rideable but pretty ordinary. The combined swell energy is a weak 64 – not much to get excited about. Saturday the 8th is much the same, with even less energy (50), and the afternoon gets a bit bumpy with a cross-shore wind. These first few days are for the die-hards.

The first real glimmer of hope is Sunday the 9th morning. We’ve got a 4ft ENE swell, period a modest 9 seconds, and a clean cross-off breeze from the north. The energy bumps up to 200, which is moderate. It’s the best of the early run, but it’s not a standout.

Then we hit a long dry patch. From Monday the 10th, the swell stays tiny, and the wind turns onshore or cross-on. The 15th and 16th of August see a bump in SSE swell to 3ft, but the wind is howling from the south-southwest at 25 mph, making it a choppy, messy scene. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session. The rest of that week is a bust, with energy readings dropping to as low as 10.

The forecast finds its mojo later on. Thursday the 20th morning shows some promise with a 4ft ENE swell, light cross-off breeze, and clean conditions. The energy is up to a solid 294. But the real standout of the whole 16-day window is Friday the 21st of August. There’s a 7ft ENE groundswell rolling in with a very long period of 13 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 1398, and the wind is light offshore from the NNW. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers, and it’s right on the optimum swell direction. It’s a point break setup, and that long period will make for some powerful, lined-up waves. At 7ft, it’s expert territory, and the crowds here are often heavy, so plan accordingly.

Saturday the 22nd still has a 6ft ENE swell, but the wind swings cross-shore, making it a bit less clean. Good waves, but Friday is the clear winner.

Bottom line: the first week and a half is mostly flat or poor. The real action is on Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st of August, with that Friday being the one to chase. The long-range call is promising but not locked in, so keep your ears open.

Rusty.

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