North Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’m not gonna lie, the next 16 days at North Beach are a bit of a rollercoaster, and we’ve got a slow start to get through. The first decent recommendation doesn’t pop up until the morning of Monday the 9th, and even then, it’s a tricky one. Let’s talk it through.

For the first few days, from Sunday the 9th through the 10th, it’s pretty grim. Sunday morning is a write-off: small, weak 3 ft swell from the ENE, period of 8 seconds, and a cross-on wind. The combined energy is a measly 247 – just no punch. Sunday afternoon is even worse with a messy cross-shore chop. Then Monday the 10th throws a real curveball. We’ve got a big 10 ft swell from the S, but it’s way too big for this beach-and-pier setup. The forecast says it’s too big, so that’s a no-go for paddle surfing. The wind is a clean cross-off, which is a shame because the waves would be clean, but it’s just too much juice. The combined energy is a massive 1571, so that’s a swirly, dangerous mess for a beginner.

From Tuesday the 11th through to Friday the 14th, we’re in a holding pattern of what the forecast calls “marginal” conditions. The swell hangs around 6 ft to 8 ft, mostly from the ESE or SE, with moderate cross-onshore winds and combined energy in the 400 to 1300 range. The water is about average for the time of year, sitting around 71°. Nothing to get excited about – the winds are just not playing ball.

Now, here’s the standout. Thursday morning, the 13th of August, is the first real glimmer of hope. The wind swings to a clean offshore from the WSW, gusting 12 mph. The swell is 6 ft from the ESE with a period of 9 seconds, and the combined energy is 604 – moderate, but manageable. The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions,” and with offshore wind, that’s a green light. This is the best on offer in the first week. It’s solid for an intermediate surfer, and the crowd factor is “sometimes,” so you might have a few mates out, but it won’t be a circus.

The weekend of the 15th and 16th is a slow burn. Saturday the 15th is still marginal with light cross-on winds, but Sunday the 16th afternoon is a little beauty. The wind goes glassy, the swell is 6 ft from the E, period 11 seconds, and the combined energy is 854. That’s a lovely, clean, long-period groundswell. It’s not huge, but glassy conditions and a solid 6 ft with long periods will give you some nice, clean lines. That’s your second standout for the period.

The second week, from the 17th to the 24th, is a mixed bag. Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th are back to marginal with light onshore winds. The real action flares up again on Friday the 21st. Friday morning looks good – 8 ft from the S, period 8 seconds, with a cross-off wind and combined energy of 882. The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions,” so that’s a solid option. But the catch is the swell is 8 ft, which is starting to push into expert-only territory. Friday afternoon, it’s forecast to be too big again at 10 ft from the S.

Then we get a big, ominous event on Saturday the 22nd. The morning sees a monster 13 ft swell from the SSW, period 13 seconds. The combined energy is a staggering 9025 – that’s extreme. The wind is a moderate cross-on, so it’s going to be a big, lumpy, dangerous mess. That’s for experts only, and even then, it’s probably a big wave day for tow-in if you’re that way inclined. The afternoon drops to 8 ft from the S, but with a strong cross-on wind, it’s still poor.

The last few days, from Sunday the 23rd to Monday the 24th, see the swell drop back to 5 ft to 3 ft, but the wind is cross-on and fresh, so it’s back to poor surf. The period on the 24th is a very long 16-17 seconds, but the swell is tiny (2 ft to 3 ft) and the wind is rubbish, so the long period just means weak, clean lines that won’t break well here.

So, to wrap it up: the best of the whole period is Thursday morning the 13th of August for the clean, offshore condition, and Sunday afternoon the 16th of August for the glassy, long-period groundswell. The big event on the 22nd is for the brave – or the foolish. The rest is a lot of waiting.

Rusty.

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