Number Fours Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get into it. The outlook for Number Fours is a bit of a mixed bag – a lot of waiting around for the magic to happen. The first few days are a write-off, but there's a glimmer of something special further out if you're patient.

The week kicks off with a whole lot of nothing. Tuesday the 8th is a total no-go. We had a solid 8ft swell from the SSW, but with a fresh 19 mph onshore wind, it was just a mess. It settled down to 6ft in the arvo, but the cross-onshore wind made it choppy and horrible. Wednesday the 9th won't get you out of bed either. The swell drops right off to 3ft, and while the wind is light, it's a cross-on breeze, leaving the surface a bit bumpy. The combined swell energy is weak, sitting around the 500 mark.

Thursday the 10th is a bit of a tease. The swell bumps up to 5ft from the ENE, but it's a short-period 7-second wind swell, so it's not going to have any punch. The wind is cross-offshore though, keeping the surface clean. It's possible to get a few, but it's not going to be memorable. The energy is moderate (686). Friday and Saturday are much the same story – small, clean waves in the 2ft to 4ft range, but lacking any real power. The energy dips into the 200-400 range.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th are flat, but then on Monday afternoon something catches the eye. The swell direction swings to the SW, and the period jumps to a massive 22 seconds. That’s a very long-period groundswell, and the energy comes back up to 288. The swell height is only 2ft, but with that period, it’s a promise of clean, lined-up waves at the reef. The wind is light and cross-offshore, so it’s going to be glassy. The only catch is that Number Fours is a reef break, and it’s exposed to the SSE swell, but this SW direction is a deviation. It’ll be a very tricky, low tide wave, but for the experienced surfer, it could be the standout session of the whole forecast. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

The energy slowly builds through the following week, with the 16th and 17th seeing SW swell in the 3ft to 3ft range with periods around 16-17 seconds. The wind stays light or cross-offshore, which is a good sign. The crowd factor is a "sometimes" here, so you might get a few heads out with you, but it’s not a circus.

By the 18th and 19th of September, the swell is holding steady around 3ft from the SSW, with longer periods still. The wind is light and variable, which could mean glassy conditions. The energy is climbing into the 800-900 range, which is a solid moderate level. This is the window to watch. The 20th and 21st start to fade out, dropping back to 2ft and the wind picks up again, turning the surf back to slop.

So, the best bets? The standout is that Monday afternoon, the 14th of September, for that ultra-long period SW swell. It’s a gamble with the size, but if it lines up, it’ll be the best wave of the month. The second best option is the window from the 16th to the 19th of September, where the groundswell is consistent, the conditions are clean, and the energy is up. For the rest of the time, you’re better off waiting for the next swell. The early part of the forecast is a write-off, and the end of the period is fading out.

Rusty.

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