La Torche Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I’ve had a look at what’s coming up for La Torche over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a rough start. The wind is all over the place and the swell isn’t doing us any favours for a while. The water temperature is sitting at about 63°, which is a bit colder than you’d normally expect for late August – about 2° off the usual.

For Friday the 28th and into the weekend, don’t even bother. We’ve got a messy mix of onshore and cross-onshore winds, with the swell jumping up but looking absolutely terrible. Saturday morning sees about 8ft of short-period, onshore slop, and the energy is at 843 (moderate to strong), but it’s blown out. The wave comment says poor surf conditions across the board. This is more of a kite-surfing setup if anything – the beaches will be a mess.

Things drag on through Monday the 29th. Monday morning has about 8ft and a big energy of 1375 (strong), but it’s still onshore and ugly. By Monday afternoon the wind drops a notch, but the ride is only a 1 out of 10 – marginal at best.

Now, there’s a little window on Tuesday the 1st of September. Early morning we get a light 6 mph SE wind, which is cross-offshore, and the swell settles to about 5ft from the WNW with a period of 9 seconds. The energy is a modest 294 (weak to moderate), but for the first time we get an “expect good surf conditions” note. If you can get out in the morning, it might look okay – clean lines, but no monsters. The afternoon fades out.

After that, it’s back to small and weak. Wednesday and Thursday of the first week are poor – little 3ft to 3ft waves, short periods (7-8 seconds), and onshore winds again. The energy drops to triple and even double digits – weak. A lot of these days won't even be worth the paddle out.

Looking further ahead, Friday the 4th of September actually brings some proper groundswell: about 6ft from the WNW with a long 13-second period. That’s a nice pulse. Energy is 1246 (strong). But the wind is WSW onshore both morning and afternoon, and the wave comment says poor surf conditions. That’s a real shame – the swell has the length and power for a good point wave, but the wind is going to trash it. If the wind swings, it could be a dark horse, but right now it's a miss.

Saturday the 5th of September is a bit more hopeful. Same swell direction, period drops a little to 12 seconds, but the wind is lighter: light WNW in the morning (cross-onshore) and light W in the afternoon (onshore). The height holds at about 6ft, energy is 912 (moderate). The rating is a 2 out of 10 – marginal. It might be the best of a pretty average run, but I wouldn’t cancel plans for it. For a point break like La Torche, that longer period swell could shape up something rideable if you pick the right bank.

From the 6th onwards, it’s more of the same – small, short period, and messy. There’s a brief window on Tuesday the 8th of September morning with offshore E wind at 12 mph, but only about 3ft at 8 seconds from the WNW. That’s clean but barely surfable – energy is just 119 (weak). After that, we dive into tiny 1ft to 2ft days right through to the 12th.

The long-range around the 10th of September shows a bigger 8ft pulse with strong energy (1996), but the wind is 19 mph onshore, so it’s going to be a washing machine for experts only. Not a beginner day.

Honestly, if you’re looking at this 16-day run, there’s no standout day. The best bet is the morning of Tuesday the 1st of September for a clean, small session if you’re desperate, or maybe the Saturday 5th for a slightly bigger, longer-period option that might just about work if the wind relents. For the rest, save your wax.

Rusty.

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