North Bar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with ya—over the next 16 days, the surf at North Bar looks pretty grim. There just isn’t a standout session on the cards. The first couple days are flat, and while there’s a bit of a bump late in the second week, the conditions never line up for anything worth paddling out for.

Let’s start from Monday, August 10th. You’re looking at tiny 0.3 ft swell with a SE direction and period around 10 seconds. Combined wave energy is only 6 – that’s weak. Winds are cross-off from the SSW at 9 mph, so it’s clean but there’s nothing to ride. Water temp is 72°, about normal for this time of year. It’s a poor surf setup, plain and simple.

Tuesday morning, August 11th, remains the same story: 0.3 ft, clean but gutless. The afternoon brings a bit more offshore wind from the SW at 12 mph but still only 0.3 ft. Nothing to get excited about.

Wednesday, August 12th, we see a bit of height to 2 ft but the period drops to 4 seconds—that’s windswell junk. The morning is onshore from the NNE at 6 mph, so it’ll be choppy and messy. Afternoon is offshore but only 0.7 ft.

The rest of that first week is more of the same. Thursday the 13th has 0.3 ft with long-period swell (14 seconds) but it’s tiny and mostly onshore. Friday the 14th has a stronger WNW breeze at 25 mph and a 2 ft swell from the south, but the wind is cross-off and solid. Combined energy climbs to 31, still weak. The water gets messy Saturday and Sunday with cross-shore winds and only 2–2 ft.

By Monday, August 17th, wind hits 25 mph from the south with 0.3 ft—kite surfers might find something, but not us. Tuesday the 18th finally shows a jump: 2–2 ft swell from the SE with period 13–15 seconds, and combined energy hits 143 (moderate). But the wind is cross-on or cross, and the wave comment says “poor surf conditions.”

Wednesday, August 19th morning brings 3 ft from the SE, period 11 seconds, and combined energy of 222 (moderate). Wind is cross-on from the NNE at only 3 mph—light ripples, but choppy. The afternoon sees a 2 ft swell with a 17-second period—that’s long-period groundswell—and combined energy jumps to 475 (strong). Wind goes cross-off from the SSW at 12 mph, and the comment says “marginal.” This is the best looking window, but it’s marginal at best.

Thursday, August 20th morning has 4 ft from the SE, period 10 seconds, combined energy 241, and offshore wind from the SW at 16 mph. It’s surfable but “very ordinary.” The afternoon stays offshore but winds pick up to 22 mph, making it fresh and clean but the swell drops to 3 ft.

From Friday, August 21st onward, it fades again. The second weekend (August 23–24) has 1–3 ft with onshore or cross-shore winds. By Monday, August 25th, you get 4 ft from the ESE, period only 6–7 seconds, combined energy 172, but it’s choppy with cross-onshore winds.

The truth is, there’s no day here I’d call a standout. The closest is Wednesday afternoon, August 19th, with that 2 ft, 17-second groundswell from the SSE and clean cross-off wind. But the swell is tiny and the conditions are only marginal. For experienced crew, Thursday morning, August 20th, with 4 ft, offshore wind, and moderate energy (241) is rideable, but far from pumping.

Overall, North Bar is in a flat spell with poor quality across the board. Hang tight—forecasts can change.

Rusty

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