Swimming Pools Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’m gonna level with you – the next couple of weeks at Pools are a bit of a mixed bag, but there’s a couple of moments that’ll get the blood pumping if you’re patient. This is a reef break, consistent, pretty exposed to the swell, and it loves a WNW direction. The water’s sitting about average for this time of year, so nothing weird there.

We kick off Tuesday, 4th August, with barely a ripple. The morning’s glassy, with a 1ft SW swell and a period of 12 seconds, but the combined energy is only 65 (weak). It’s surfable, but very ordinary. That afternoon the wind swings cross-shore and it drops off. Wednesday, 5th August, is more of the same – glassy morning, tiny 1ft swell, 14-second period, energy of 88 (weak). Honestly, the first few days are just a tease. You’ll be sitting on the beach, not the board.

Thursday, 6th August, the morning is again glassy, with a 2ft SW swell, 13-second period, and energy climbs to 103 (moderate). Still, it’s “surfable but very ordinary.” The afternoons are all cross-shore and messy. Friday, 7th August, the morning stays clean with a cross-offshore breeze, and the swell bumps up to 1ft from the SSW with a long 18-second period. Energy hits 197 (moderate). That long period means better shaped waves, but at a reef break like Pools, it’ll be good – longer gaps between sets, easier paddling. Saturday, 8th August, the morning is clean again, 2ft SSW swell, 16-second period, energy 221 (moderate). Still, the scores are ordinary.

Now, for the true standout. Sunday, 9th August, morning is glassy – I mean, flat calm – with a 2ft SSW swell, 14-second period, energy 157 (moderate). It’s the best of the first week, but not exactly pumping. The real gold comes on Friday, 14th August. The afternoon session sees a 2ft SW swell, 17-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 413 (strong). The wind is a light cross-offshore breeze, keeping it clean. That’s the one to circle. The next morning, Saturday, 15th August, has a 3ft SW swell, 16-second period, energy 372 (strong), with a cross-offshore breeze. That’s also a ripper, but the afternoon turns marginal.

The second week is quieter. Sunday, 16th through Wednesday, 19th August, mornings are mostly clean but tiny – 1ft to 2ft, periods around 14 seconds, energy in the 120-180 range (weak to moderate). The glassy morning on Wednesday, 19th August, with a 1ft SSW swell, 16-second period, energy 153, is a nice little session but nothing to write home about. Crowds at Pools are “sometimes” – so expect a few heads out there when it’s decent.

To be honest, the best on offer is that Friday, 14th August afternoon and Saturday, 15th August morning. That’s your window. The rest is mostly small, clean, but forgettable. It’s not a total loss, but you’ll need to be picky.

Rusty.

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