The Groin (Noosa) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll level with you – the next couple of weeks around The Groin (Noosa) are a bit of a struggle. There’s a cold start with not much happening, and the water is sitting at 20°, a touch colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent spring suit.

We kick off Sunday afternoon, 16th August, with tiny 1 ft waves from the east, a short 9-second period, and a cross-off SSE breeze at 16 mph. The combined energy is a weak 31, so it’s really just a splash. The forecast is clear: poor surf. Monday, 17th, is even worse – 0.3 ft, barely a ripple, with a 14-second period that’s way too long for this lack of size. The energy is a measly 4. Not worth paddling out.

Then, from Tuesday, 18th August, we see a pulse. Swell jumps to 7 ft from the ESE with an 8-second period, and the energy hits 494 (moderate). But the wind is a cross ESE breeze at 12 mph, and the wave comment calls it “poor surf conditions” and “moderate cross-shore with a cross-chop.” It’s messy. Wednesday morning, 19th, shows 7 ft ESE swell, 8-second period, 527 energy, but still a cross-off wind and marginal. Afternoon cleans up to clear skies and 4 ft from the ENE, but the period drops to 7 seconds and energy falls to 135 – it’s weak.

Thursday, 20th, is similar with 3 ft in the morning (101 energy) and a 6 ft cross-shore mess in the afternoon. Friday, 21st, gives us a 5 ft E swell, 8-second period, and 229 energy, with a light SSE breeze at 6 mph. The morning is clean, but it’s labelled “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” Not a standout.

Saturday, 22nd August, is the best of a quiet bunch. Morning brings 4 ft E swell, 8-second period, 199 energy, and glassy conditions with a 3 mph SSE breeze. That’s clean. The afternoon turns cross-on, so the window is narrow. It’s ordinary, but if you’re desperate, the early session is your pick.

From Sunday, 23rd, through to the end of the month, it’s a slow grind. 4 ft to 1 ft swells, short periods, and weak energy (20 to 159). A few glassy mornings pop up on 24th (2 ft NE, 105 energy) and 25th (2 ft NE, 64 energy), but the waves are tiny. The best of the rest is 27th August, Thursday, with a 3 ft E swell, 7-second period, 70 energy, and a light offshore SW breeze at 9 mph in the afternoon – clean but small.

Overall, the one true standout is Saturday morning, 22nd August: 4 ft from the east, 8-second period, 199 energy, and glassy conditions. It’s clean, beginner-friendly (under 5 ft), and the wind is perfect. Don’t expect much else. The rest of the 16 days is a long slog with a lot of “poor surf conditions” and gaps of days with nothing worth chasing.

Rusty

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