Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a good, hard look at what’s shaking for Raffs Beach over the next couple of weeks. We’ve got one spot to focus on, so we’ll ride the wave of this forecast from start to finish.

We start off with a bit of a hiccup. For the first couple of days—Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th of August—it’s pretty grim. Tuesday afternoon has rain showers and a messy 7 ft SW swell with a cross-onshore wind. Wednesday isn’t much better with some weak, short-period leftovers. The combined energy is moderate (850 on Wednesday morning), but the quality is just not there yet. A bit of a flat start.

Things finally turn the corner on Thursday 6th August morning. The wind swings offshore from the NNW, and we get a clean 3 ft SW swell. The energy is modest (382), but the offshore breeze makes it rideable for beginners. That glassy window is your first real chance to get wet.

Now, we’ve got a true standout on the horizon. Friday 7th August is the pick of the first week. Clear skies, glassy conditions (5 km/h from the NW), and a solid 5 ft SW groundswell with a long 16-second period. The combined energy is strong (1028). This is what we live for—clean, lined-up waves perfect for experienced surfers. The water temp is sitting at 55°, which is bang on average for this time of year.

Saturday 8th August keeps the good vibes rolling with moderate offshore winds from the N all day. The 5 ft SW swell holds, and the morning in particular is excellent with clean conditions.

There’s a bit of a lull on Sunday 9th with strong to near-gale offshore winds. The swell drops to around 3 ft, and while it’s clean, it’s going to be a battle to paddle into anything. Best to give that one a miss unless you’re looking for a workout.

Then, things get interesting again but not for the faint-hearted. From Monday 10th August through Wednesday 13th, the swell pumps up. Monday afternoon sees an 12 ft WSW swell with massive energy (10608), but it’s simply too big for this break—expert only, and even then, sketchy. The same goes for Wednesday 12th with a 13 ft swell (8220 energy). The winds are clean, but these are big-boy waves. If you’re a kite surfer, the setup looks more appealing than paddle surfing during these days.

The second half of the month shapes up nicely. Friday 14th and Saturday 15th August are another standout window. The swell settles to a manageable 8 ft from the SW on Friday, with gentle cross-offshore winds and clean conditions. The energy is still strong (4673), and this is excellent for experienced surfers. Saturday afternoon gets even better with a light 5 km/h offshore breeze from the N and a 6 ft SW swell. That’s clean, smooth, and super inviting.

The last few days from Sunday 16th to Wednesday 19th keep the momentum. Swell hangs around 5 ft to 7 ft, with mostly clean conditions and light winds. Tuesday 18th morning looks particularly good with a light NE cross-offshore breeze and a 6 ft SW swell.

One thing to note: Raffs Beach can get crowds “sometimes,” so keep an eye on the lineup, especially on the good days. The optimum swell direction here is SSW, and most of the swells are coming from the SW, so it’s a good match.

Overall, there’s a lot to like here. The first few days are a write-off, but once the clean groundswells kick in from the 6th onward, there are plenty of windows for good surf. Use Thursday 6th and Friday 7th as your early targets, and then keep the 14th and 15th marked on the calendar. Later calls like Tuesday 18th are promising but less certain. Get on it.

Rusty.

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