Norman Bay (Wilsons Promontory) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, lookin’ at the next couple of weeks for Norman Bay.

First off, if you’re itchin’ for a paddle, you’re gonna have to be patient. There’s a real rough patch of weather and wind to get through before we see anything worthwhile. The water temp’s sittin’ around 56°F, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year down here, no nasty surprises.

So, the outlook starts quiet. Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th are absolute write-offs – strong onshore winds and messy, powerful swell with combined energy readings over 2000 (moderate to strong energy). You don’t wanna be out there. Saturday the 15th is where we finally get a glimmer. The morning is still a bit marginal with a cross-on breeze, but by Saturday afternoon, the wind swings cross-offshore, the swell drops to a manageable 4ft from the SW with a long 15-second period, and the energy settles to 736 (moderate). The conditions clean right up, and it expects *very good surf conditions*.

Sunday the 16th keeps that clean theme going. The swell eases to 3ft from the SW, still with a nice 14-second interval. The morning has a cross-offshore breeze, and by the afternoon we get a proper offshore wind from the east at 9 mph. The energy drops to around 297 (weak to moderate), but it’s clean, lined up, and perfect for a beginner-friendly wave. The consistency is fair, so you’ll get your waves.

After that, the energy drops away into the middle of the week. Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th offer small, clean waves (2ft to 3ft) with offshore winds, but they’re ordinary. Wednesday the 19th gets really small, with swell dipping to 2ft and energy below 100 (weak). It’s surfable if you’re desperate, but hardly a standout.

Thursday the 20th through to Saturday the 22nd sees a return of poor conditions with strong, onshore winds and lumpy, choppy water. The 22nd has a nasty near-gale ripping, so stay on land.

Now, for the far end of the window, we’ve got some serious size brewing, but it’s gonna come with a catch. Sunday the 23rd of August sees a big jump in swell – up to 8ft from the SW with a short 10-second period in the morning, and then 7ft with a very long 16-second period in the afternoon (combined energy hits 2682 – strong). Problem is, it’s accompanied by a strong onshore breeze, so it’s going to be a messy, blown-out mess. This is not for beginners – at over 5ft it’s too much for learners, and the wind will make it a battle.

Monday the 24th through Wednesday the 26th stays big, with swell from 5ft up to 8ft, but the wind is a fresh cross-onshore or onshore, making it lumpy and poor. The 25th sees that 8ft mark – that’s expert-only territory, and even then, the wind is trash. The combined energy on the 25th morning is a massive 4803 (very strong), but it’s useless without clean wind.

The only real standout in this whole run, and I mean the one to point your board at, is Saturday afternoon the 15th through Sunday the 16th. Saturday afternoon gives you 4ft SW swell, clean cross-off breeze, and very good conditions. Sunday morning and afternoon keep it small (3ft) but glassy clean, with offshore wind. That’s your window. After that, it’s back to waiting.

So, to sum it up: the first few days are a write-off, the weekend of the 15th-16th delivers the cleanest, most user-friendly surf of the whole period, and then it gets big and windy again. If you’re a beginner, stick to that weekend. If you’re an expert, you might be tempted by the size late in the month, but you’ll need some serious luck with the wind to make it work.

Stay safe, and keep one eye on the horizon.

Rusty.

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