North Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what North Beach has in store for us over the next 16 days.

It’s a pretty frustrating stretch ahead if I’m being honest. The overall pattern is one of persistent onshore or cross-onshore winds and a lot of lumpy, choppy conditions. The surf does show up, but it’s constantly fighting against the wind. We’re looking at a long gap of days with very little to get excited about.

The first real sniff of something is Thursday morning, August 20th. We’ve got a 7ft southerly swell with a short, weak 8-second period. The energy is moderate (627). The problem is the wind is blowing 19 mph from the SSW, which is cross-offshore, so it’s clean on the face, but that’s a strong breeze making it hard work. The waves are clean but marginal, and the tide could be a factor.

Then it’s a rough run. Friday through to the end of the first week is mostly a write-off. The wind is cross-on from the NE, chopping up everything. Saturday morning the 22nd is tiny at 1ft, and the afternoon gets blasted by a 28 mph cross-off wind that, while clean, will be a struggle to even paddle out in. We get a small window Sunday morning, August 23rd, with a 5ft southerly swell (478 energy) and a clean cross-off wind from the SSW at 12 mph. That’s the best of the first week, but with a 9-second period, it’s not exactly a groundswell masterpiece.

The second week is a mixed bag of small, short-period swells and persistent onshore winds. Monday, August 31st sees a jump in energy with a 7ft swell from the ESE, but it’s got a 28 mph NE wind screaming onshore, making it a total mess. The energy is very strong (1176), but you’d be a kite surfer, not a surfer, to enjoy that.

The one standout that has a bit of potential is Tuesday, September 1st. The morning has a 3ft southerly swell with a very long 14-second period, and the energy is strong (1130). The wind is a cross-shore 19 mph from the south. It’s going to be lumpy, but that long-period energy will have some push. The afternoon sees a jump to 8ft from the east, but the period drops to 8 seconds, and the wind is still a fresh cross-shore breeze. That morning session is the best on offer, but it’s for experienced surfers only—8ft with short period and a cross-shore breeze is a beast.

The water temperature is sitting at 71°F, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Wind is a constant problem here. For a beach break, this setup is more interesting for the kite surfers than us paddle surfers, especially on those days with strong, clean cross-off winds.

So, for the best chance of a wave, you’re looking at Thursday morning, August 20th for a clean, windy session, or Sunday morning, August 23rd for a cleaner but smaller option. The real dark horse, if you’ve got the skill, is Tuesday morning, September 1st—that long-period southerly swell could have some juice, but it’s a long way out and the wind is a gamble.

Stay frosty.
Rusty.

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