Panoramas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the table for Panoramas. Honestly, looking over the next 16 days, there’s not much to get the heart racing. We’ve got a long stretch of small, messy surf and mostly cross-onshore winds. The water’s sitting at 72°F, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year – nice for a dip, but not enough to save the waves.

We start off Thursday, 20 August, with glassy conditions in the morning – pristine, flat ocean with just 0.7ft of northwest swell. It’s a total blank. The afternoon picks up a little to 4ft from the northwest, but a 16 mph cross-shore wind turns it into a choppy mess. Score zero, and rightly so.

Friday, 21 August, is a bit more promising. The morning goes glassy again with 3ft northwest swell, period around 7 seconds. It’s small, weak energy (73), and only just surfable. Afternoon gets a bit more size at 4ft, but the cross-on wind ruins it. Saturday and Sunday continue in the same vein – tiny glassy mornings with 2ft to 2ft of swell, then afternoons blown out. That Sunday morning has a 10-second period from the northwest, but it’s only 2ft – not enough to do anything with.

The first real hint of something happens Monday, 24 August. Morning glass, 3ft from the northwest with an 11-second period – that longer period gives it a bit more shape and energy (176), but it’s still small. The afternoon jumps to 4ft and energy climbs to 289, but cross-on wind chops it up. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings repeat the glassy small swell pattern (3ft, periods around 7-9 seconds), but the afternoons are always the same story – cross-on and messy.

From Thursday, 27 August, through to Monday, 31 August, the mornings are all cross-shore or cross-onshore winds with 3ft to 4ft swell, periods mostly 7-9 seconds. The energy creeps up gradually – from 73 to 238 – but the quality is poor. Afternoons are cross-on and choppy.

Now, the standout moment across the whole outlook is Tuesday, 1 September. In the morning, it’s completely calm – zero wind, glassy as a mirror. Swell is 3ft from the northwest, period 8 seconds, energy 138. It’s not huge, but for this stretch, it’s the cleanest you’ll see. That glassy surface will make it feel better than it is. After that, it’s back to cross-on winds and ordinary surf through to 4 September.

If you’re a beginner, the swell never tops 4ft, so it’s safe enough, but the conditions aren’t fun. For experts, there’s nothing with enough power to get excited about – the biggest energy reading is 289 on Monday afternoon, which is moderate, but that cross-on wind kills it. Honestly, with the persistent side winds and small waves, this setup looks more interesting for a kite session than paddle surfing.

No standouts worth travelling for. Keep an eye on the forecasts – it won’t stay this flat forever.

Rusty.

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