Narrabeen-Alley Rights Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

First up, we’re looking at Narrabeen-Alley Rights (a beach/sandbar setup). This stretch is exposed and likes swell from the ENE. Water temps are sitting at 17°, which is about 0.7° cooler than average for this time of year – nothing too wild, just a touch on the nippy side.

The 16-day period starts off pretty average, to be honest. The first solid call comes on the morning of Monday the 24th of August. We’ve got a small NE swell at 3 ft, only 5 seconds period, so it’s short-period windswill. The combined energy is weak at 53, and with a light N breeze creating a cross-off, the conditions are clean but the waves are very ordinary. You won’t be missing much if you give it a miss.

Tuesday the 25th of August sees a bit of a jump. The morning swell pushes to 5 ft from the NE with a 7-second period and combined energy at 326 (moderate energy). The wind is a moderate N cross-off, so the surface looks clean. The afternoon is actually the better window: 5 ft from the NE, 8-second period, with a NNW cross-off at 9 mph. The energy drops a little to 229, but the conditions are expected to be good. This is the standout window across the whole period – it’s not huge, but the wind is tidy and you’ll get some fun, clean lines.

Wednesday the 26th of August turns ugly. A risk of thunderstorms in the morning with S winds, and by the afternoon, it’s onshore and choppy with 6 ft from the south. That’s too lumpy and messy for a decent paddle – honestly, the wind and chop make it look more like a kite day than a surf session.

From Thursday the 27th through to the end of the month, the surf drops right off. We’re looking at small swell – 2 ft or less – with periods ranging 8–11 seconds. Combined energy barely gets above 100. There is a brief moment on Friday morning the 28th of August when the wind goes glassy (NNW, 3 mph) and the swell is 2 ft from the ENE, 8 seconds, but the energy is only 61, so it’s tiny and ordinary. You’ll get a few tiny glassy rollers but nothing to write home about.

The first week of September is dead: from the 1st to the 6th, we’ve got swell heights of 2 ft or less, mostly ENE, with periods up to 10 seconds. The combined energy is in the teens to low 60s. There are a few clean mornings with light offshore or glassy conditions (like September 1st morning, WNW 3 mph, clean), but the waves are tiny. You’d be scratching for anything rideable.

Finally, on the 7th and 8th of September (Monday and Tuesday), things perk up a little. The 8th (Tuesday) morning has a 4 ft NE swell with 7-second period and energy at 140. With a W cross-off at 9 mph, it’ll be clean and surfable. Still nothing special, but you can get a few. It’s a long way out, so treat that with a grain of salt.

The best on offer? Tuesday afternoon the 25th of August. Swell 5 ft from the NE, clean cross-off wind, and the energy is in the moderate zone. That’s your window. Everything else is either too small, too messy, or both.

Stay salty.
- Rusty

Read more