Norries Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Norries Head. This is a point break that’s inconsistent, so when it does fire, you’ve gotta be on it. It’s usually a beginner-friendly wave, but don’t expect it to be pumping every day. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing weird going on there.

We start off this Saturday morning, the 22nd of August, with a small 3ft swell from the ENE, period a short 7 seconds. The wind is light offshore from the WNW, so it’s clean. The combined energy is weak (69). It’s surfable, but pretty ordinary. The afternoon goes glassy, with a tiny bump in energy (80), but still small and short-period. Just a bit of a knee-high dribble, really.

Sunday the 23rd turns messy. The morning cross-on southerly wind and afternoon rain showers with a stronger breeze make it poor. The swell stays small at 3ft, and the energy creeps up to 109 in the arvo, but it’s choppy and not worth paddling out. Monday and Tuesday follow the same pattern – small, cross-onshore, poor conditions. A few days of nothing.

Then Wednesday the 26th of August, we get a bit of life. Morning has a 4ft ENE swell, period still 8 seconds, but the wind goes light offshore from the NW. The energy jumps to 179 – moderate now – and conditions are clean. By afternoon, it’s even better: 4ft, light offshore, energy at 206, and the forecast says good surf. This is the first standout. The point should be offering up some clean, head-high lines. It’s inconsistent here, so when it’s this good, you get in the water.

Thursday the 27th is a bit of a tease. Morning shows 5ft with light cross-on wind, energy at 264, but it’s marginal. The afternoon goes onshore and nasty. Friday the 28th morning is a gem: 5ft, glassy conditions, energy at 262. That’s a clean, fun wave. The afternoon gets cross-onshore again, so the morning is the call.

Now, Saturday the 29th of August – this is the real standout. Morning glass, 6ft of ENE swell, energy at 352. That’s solid, head-high-plus, and clean. The point will be holding up nicely. This is the best wave of the whole outlook. The afternoon gets a bit cross-shore, but the morning session is magic.

Sunday the 30th goes downhill with rain and onshore winds. Monday the 31st gets big, with 8ft from the ESE, but it’s a mess – heavy rain, fresh cross-onshore winds, energy up at 851. That’s too big and lumpy for a beginner spot, and the conditions are poor. It’s more of a kite-surfing day than a paddle scene.

Then into September, Tuesday the 1st is another beauty. Morning glass, 5ft from the E, energy at 318. The afternoon stays glassy, 5ft, energy at 374. Clean, solid, fun waves for the point. Wednesday the 2nd gets a longer-period 11 second swell at 5ft, energy at 571, but it’s cross-on and choppy. That’s a shame, because the longer period would have been great for the point.

The rest of the run fades out. Thursday the 3rd is poor, onshore, and lumpy. Friday the 4th of September offers a brief return: 5ft from the NE with cross-offshore winds, clean, energy at 431. That’s a solid morning and afternoon session. After that, the swell drops right off into the 5th and 6th, with tiny, poor surf.

So, to sum it up: the best of the lot is Saturday the 29th of August morning at Norries Head – 6ft, glassy, clean. The other standout is Wednesday the 26th of August afternoon, and Tuesday the 1st of September is also a cracker. Get in when it’s glassy and the point is working.

Rusty.

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