Norman Bay (Wilsons Promontory) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, listen up. Rusty here. We’re looking at Norman Bay (Wilsons Promontory) for the next couple of weeks, and to be honest, it’s a tough stretch. The water temp is sitting around 57°, which is pretty much where it should be for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first week is almost a write-off. We’ve got a pulse of swell coming through from Saturday the 25th, with a 7ft SW groundswell (moderate energy at 916) but a fresh 22 mph W wind on it just ruins it. That onshore wind hangs around for days. Sunday the 26th is smaller, 4ft, but still has that W wind blowing on it. Monday and Tuesday are messy with cross-on winds, and by Wednesday the 29th, the swell bumps up to a very long-period 7ft SW groundswell (strong energy at 2014), but strong cross-onshore winds from the SSW make it lumpy and poor. This whole first week is just a battle with the wind. There’s really nothing you’d want to paddle out in; it’s more of a kitesurfing kind of setup if you’re into that.

There’s a gap of poor conditions through Thursday and Friday the 30th and 31st with weaker, messy surf.

Now, the one and only standout in this whole outlook comes on Monday, August 3rd. The swell drops to 3ft from the SW, but it’s a long-period 15-second groundswell (moderate energy at 434). The real kicker is the wind: a gentle 9 mph NE breeze swinging cross-offshore. We’re talking clean conditions. It’s the only session in the 16 days where the stars align. This is for the early birds. The wave comment says "expect good surf conditions," and I’d agree. It’ll be small but shapely, perfect if you’ve got a log or a fish. The crowds can show up here sometimes, but on a Monday morning with a small forecast, you should have plenty of room.

After that, it falls apart again. Tuesday the 4th through Friday the 7th is tiny and wind-affected, with swell dropping below 2ft. A total bust.

We do see another pulse of bigger swell building for Saturday, August 8th. It jumps to 8ft from the WSW (strong energy at 1770), but it’s cross-on with a NW wind. By the afternoon it’s 10ft (very strong energy at 2144), with a SW breeze, still cross-on. That size is expert-only territory, and the wind isn’t ideal. It’s a big, lumpy, messy wave. Not the day for a beginner. Conditions look marginal.

The rest of the second week into August 9th just has strong winds and messy conditions again.

So, here’s the takeaway: Don’t waste your time this week. Point your board at Monday, August 3rd, for a small, clean, glidy session at Norman Bay. Everything else is blown out or too big and ugly. It’s a long blank run for the area, but that one Monday window looks worth waiting for.

Rusty.

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