Putsborough Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Putsborough over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s not exactly setting the world on fire. We’ve got a real quiet start with nearly nothing to get excited about, and the first proper surfable swell doesn’t appear until the very end of the first week and into the start of August. For the first few days, you’re looking at tiny, weak waves and poor conditions, so you might as well leave the board in the car.

We kick off on Friday the 24th with tiny 0.2m mush from the west, a period of just 8 seconds, and the combined energy is a measly 9. That’s barely a ripple. The morning is glassy, which is nice, but with nowhere to go. The afternoon gets a fresh onshore wind from the WNW, making it a complete write-off. Saturday and Sunday the 25th and 26th stay small and messy. The wind is onshore or cross-onshore, with Saturday afternoon's surf getting lumpy and hitting only 22 on the energy scale. By Sunday morning the 26th, the swell finally bumps up to 1.6m from the west, but it’s blown out by around 35 km/h winds, and the energy climbs to 225, so some power is there but it’s a real battle. That’s not one for the beginners – over 5 feet and choppy, it’s a handful.

The first half of the next week is a bit of a letdown. Monday through Wednesday the 27th to 29th offer tiny waves, cross-onshore winds, and weak energy readings. The water feels about average for the time of year, nothing wild. Frankly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on those days with the stronger breezes. Thursday the 30th stays small but the morning is clean with a light cross-offshore breeze, but the swell is still only 1 foot, so it’s not breaking with any real push.

Now, the real story starts from Friday the 1st of August. We get a moderate swell building from the WSW. By Saturday the 1st, wave heights are around 4 feet to 5 feet with a period of 9-10 seconds, and the energy is ramping up significantly to 271 then 294. The wind is cross-shore to cross-onshore, so it’s a bit lumpy, but there’s enough push for a fun session if you’re okay with a bit of chop.

The standout period is Sunday the 2nd of August. The morning kicks off with a solid 7 foot swell from the WSW, period of 9 seconds, and a combined energy of 632 – that’s a strong wall of water. The afternoon sees it peak at 8 feet with an energy reading of 1282. That’s powerful, consistent, and it’s going to be pumping. However, at over 8 feet, this is strictly for experienced surfers only. The break is beach-based, so with that size and a moderate cross-onshore wind, it’s going to be heavy and a bit messy. This is the best on offer, but it’s a heavy, powerful beast. The swell direction from the WSW matches the optimum direction for Putsborough, which is a good sign for the shape.

Monday the 3rd of August eases a little, with 6 feet from the WSW in the morning and a 589 energy reading, still cross-onshore. The rest of the second week sees the swell slowly drop back down through the 5 foot range and below, with the wind staying onshore or cross-onshore, making it a choppy run. The surf is there, but it’s not clean. The very long-range stuff around the 7th and 8th of August fades back to tiny, weak waves again.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a dud. The best chance you’ve got is Sunday the 2nd of August, but only if you’re an expert and don’t mind a bit of lumpy, powerful surf. Keep an eye on the wind, because if it swings offshore, that day could be a classic. For now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

Read more