Number Threes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Number Threes has got cooking for us over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a bit of a slow burner, but there’s some real promise on the horizon if you can be patient.

The whole run starts off a bit rough. For the first few days, from Sunday the 23rd through to Tuesday the 25th, we’ve got a consistent 5ft to 7ft swell rolling in from the ENE, but the wind is a strong cross-offshore from the ENE, blowing at 25 mph. That’s just making a mess of things – the wave comment says "poor surf conditions" and I’m feeling that. The water is sitting at a warm 81°, which is pretty normal for this time of year – nothing unusual there.

Wednesday the 26th is where things start to shift. The morning still has that junky ENE wind and small 2ft surf, but by Wednesday afternoon we get a proper change. A long-period groundswell from the S, 18 seconds, starts to push in. It’s only 2ft, but with that long period it’s got some grunt. The combined energy is moderate (622). It’s still labelled as "marginal," but you can feel the tide turning, so to speak. This S swell sticks around into Thursday the 27th with 4ft and 17-second periods, and the wind finally eases to a 19 mph cross-off. Still not perfect, but we’re getting closer.

Now, here’s where the real standout sits. If you can hold out until the first week of September, you’re going to be rewarded. Come Tuesday the 1st of September, the swell jumps up to 7ft from the ENE with a combined energy of 1246 – that’s strong, solid wave energy. The wind remains a cross-off from the ENE at 22 mph. It’s still cross-off, not ideal, but the size and power are there. The rating for Number Threes is 4 out of 5 – it’s an advanced reef break that is consistent. It’s exposed to the swell, and the optimum direction is SSE, but we’re getting ENE, so it's a bit of a mismatch. Still, for sheer power, this is the best window.

But the true gem – and I mean the one I’d circle on the calendar – is Saturday the 6th of September. We get a pumping 10ft swell from the ENE, with a 11-second period, and the combined energy hits a massive 2397. That’s very strong, powerful surf. The wind is still cross-off from the ENE at 19 mph. For a reef break, this is going to be a heavy, expert-only day. The swell is over 8ft, so this is strictly for the big dogs. If you’re not comfortable in serious, powerful waves, stay on the sand. This spot is often crowded, and on a day like that, you can expect company.

So to sum it up: the first week is a write-off. From the 23rd to the 29th of August, it’s mostly poor with that persistent ENE wind. There’s a brief window of S groundswell on the 26th and 27th, but it’s small and marginal. The real action kicks off on the 1st of September and builds right through to the 7th. The best of the best is Saturday the 6th of September – that 10ft swell is the one to watch. The rest of the second week has consistent 7ft to 8ft stuff, so if you miss the big day, there’s still plenty of juice.

Keep an eye on the forecast, but for now, save your energy for that first week of September. Rusty out.

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