North Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what North Beach has got cooking over the next couple of weeks. It’s a real mixed bag, but there are a couple of windows that’ll get the heart pumping.

First up, the overall pattern: we’ve got a lot of swell on the way, but for the most part, the wind is going to be a bit of a problem. The first four days are all about a building swell but it’s riding on some strong cross-offshore breezes. It’s clean, but it’s a bit of a wrestle to get the right wave, especially with the size ramping up.

Let’s break it down. Thursday the 30th sees a 7ft to 8ft swell out of the SSE with a moderate period of 9 seconds. The wave energy is moderate at best (926-1154), but it's pretty poor quality for a proper surf. Don’t get too excited.

On Friday the 31st, things get serious. The swell jumps to 10ft from the SSE and the energy rockets up to a very strong 2486. The catch is it’s too big for this break. This one’s for the experts only, and even then, it’s going to be a beast. The morning might look clean, but it’s a big, powerful wave that’s going to close out on the pier.

Saturday the 1st of August is a bit of a letdown – dropping back to 7ft, but still a messy, cross-off wind. The energy drops a bit.

Now, here’s the true standout in the first week. Sunday, the 2nd of August. This is the morning to set the alarm for. We’ve got an 8ft SE groundswell with a period of 11 seconds. The combined energy is a strong 1761. But the key is the wind – a light 6 mph cross-offshore from the SSW. That’s about as clean as it gets. The swell direction is coming from the SE, which is close to the optimum SE direction for North Beach, meaning it’ll wrap in nicely. It’s going to be a bit of a challenge for the average surfer with that size, but for the intermediate and above, the conditions are excellent. The wave will have some punch and the light wind will keep the face smooth. It’s a pretty consistent spot, so expect a few heads out, but it’s worth it.

After that, things go a bit flat and messy from Monday the 3rd right through to Saturday the 8th. The swell drops off and the wind turns onshore from the NE, making everything choppy and lumpy. There’s a solid 5-day gap there with nothing worth paddling out for. The wave energy drops to weak to moderate (around 200-700). It’s a dead period.

Then on Sunday the 9th, a new long-range swell is building, but it’s mostly wind and a messy 5ft to 4ft. Still not happening.

Now, for the second week, we’ve got a promising but less certain call for Monday the 10th of August. A solid 12ft to 10ft SSW groundswell with a period of 12 seconds is forecast. The combined energy is a very strong 3930. The wind is looking alright – fresh cross-off in the morning. But again, it’s forecast to be too big for the break. This one is a proper big-wave day for the crew with the biggest balls. The wave will be powerful and long-period, but it’s going to be intimidating and dangerous for anyone else.

Tuesday the 11th brings a big 7ft to 8ft S groundswell with a very long 14-16 second period. The energy is through the roof (3444-3982). But the wind is cross-onshore, making it choppy. The long period will be better matched to a point or reef, so it might break a bit straight on the beach, but there’ll be a lot of water moving.

The rest of that week (12th-14th) is a mix of smaller swells and still onshore winds. Not the best.

So, for the entire window, the one true standout is Sunday morning, the 2nd of August. That’s your best bet for a clean, fun session. The big wave on the 10th is a huge, powerful swell for experts only.

The water temperature is about average for this time of year – no major anomalies.

This is Rusty, signing off. Get out there when it’s good.

Read more