Norries Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and here’s how the surf’s lookin’ over the next couple of weeks for Norries Head.

Right now, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. The opening swell on Friday morning is a tiny 2ft from the ENE with a short 7-second period, and while the wind’s glassy, the combined energy’s weak (59). It’s surfable but pretty ordinary. That glassy spell won’t last either—by Friday afternoon the wind shifts cross-on and the conditions go downhill.

Saturday’s a write-off: same small swell, messy winds, and poor surf all day. Sunday morning actually starts to show some promise. The swell bumps up to 4ft from the east, period stretches to 9 seconds, and we get clean conditions with a light cross-off breeze. The combined energy climbs to moderate (228). It’s not pumping, but it’s the first decent window. By Sunday arvo the wind picks up and it’s back to poor.

Monday morning is the real standout in the first week. Clean offshore wind from the WNW at 12 mph, 3ft of east swell with a 9-second period, and combined energy at 211. That offshore flow will groom the point nicely. It’s a small wave but lined up and clean—best of the bunch so far.

Tuesday stays small and clean in the morning but gets choppy by afternoon. Wednesday brings a pulse of 6ft from the north, but it’s a short-period windswell (6 seconds) with onshore wind issues—marginal at best. Thursday drops right back to tiny 2ft waves.

Now, the real action starts a week out. Friday the 14th of August morning serves up a cracking 3ft groundswell from the SE with a long 12-second period, glassy wind, and combined energy at 314. That’s clean, long-period energy—perfect for a point break like Norries Head. This is the best on offer: good shape, easy paddling, and light airs.

From there, the swell goes quiet again through Saturday and Sunday. But hold onto your board—Monday the 17th kicks off a solid building trend. By Wednesday the 19th we’re looking at 10ft of east-southeast swell with a moderate 8–9 second period. Combined energy hits 1219 on Wednesday morning and climbs to 1780 by Thursday. That’s strong energy. Thing is, the wind stays cross-on from the SSE, keeping conditions choppy and poor. This is big, powerful swell (over 8ft), so it’s experts-only territory, and the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than a clean paddle session.

The end of the outlook, Friday the 21st, has 10ft from the east with a very long 13-second period and combined energy at 2757—huge groundswell. But again, cross-on winds. Still a few of those marginal windows could clean up if the wind shifts.

Water temp is 69° with a near-normal anomaly of -0.5°—pretty average for this time of year.

Crowds can be an issue at Norries Head, it’s often busy, and it’s an inconsistent break, so you’ve got to pick your moments. The standout morning is Friday the 14th of August—that glassy SE groundswell. Monday morning the 10th is the other clean pick, just smaller.

Rusty.

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