Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, looking at the forecast for Raffs Beach.

First up, we've got a window of solid, powerful swell on the way starting Wednesday the 3rd. The early part of the week sees a building SW groundswell, but it's gonna be a bit of a mess with the wind. The real standout, though, is kicking off Thursday afternoon. The water temp is about what you'd expect for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary.

Let's break it down. Wednesday morning the 2nd is a write-off with a 6ft SW swell but a 9 mph cross-off wind that's just not cooperating. Clean waves, but the score suggests it's a marginal call. That afternoon, the wind swings more cross and the swell jumps to 7ft, but it's still not great.

Thursday morning the 3rd is a no-go: 8ft of SW swell with a 12 mph cross wind and rain. But Thursday afternoon? That's where it gets interesting. The swell jumps to 15ft from the SW with a 14-second period, and the wind goes light cross-off. The combined energy is massive (10714). This is a big, powerful groundswell. For a beach break, that 15ft is only for the experienced crew – it's going to be thick and heavy. The only good news is that it's clean.

Friday the 4th keeps the goods coming with a 10ft SW swell, 16-second period, and clean cross-off winds all day. This is another day for the experts, with the combined energy around 4000. It's a big, powerful, clean swell.

Saturday the 5th is a write-off. The morning has a 7ft swell but the wind is howling at 25 mph, and by the afternoon, the wind is a messy 22 mph cross-shore with a lumpy chop. That's a hard pass.

Now, here's the real gem. Sunday the 6th. Morning has a 7ft SW swell, 14-second period, with a light 6 mph cross-off wind. Clean conditions. The combined energy is 1838. This is the pick of the week for the experienced surfer. The afternoon is even better, with a 6ft swell and a 6 mph NE cross-off wind. Excellent conditions.

Monday the 7th is a morning glass-off. Zero wind, 3ft of SW swell with a 13-second period. The energy is light (355), but it's glassy. This is a good one for the beginners, as the swell is a manageable size. The afternoon turns to a light cross-on, so morning is the call.

Tuesday the 8th is another standout. Morning is glassy with a 4ft, 18-second, very long-period groundswell from the SW. Combined energy is 1118. That long period will make for some great, lined-up waves, but it might be a bit straight at the beach. The afternoon is clean with a 6ft, 17-second swell and a 9 mph offshore wind. Excellent.

The middle of the week from the 9th to the 10th is a total loss. The wind is onshore and strong, with massive, messy swell. This is a gap of about 3 days with no real hope.

The 11th is marginal. A 8ft SSW swell with a short 10-second period and a cross-off wind, but the energy is decent. Don't get too excited.

The 12th is a gem. Saturday morning the 12th is glassy with a 6ft, 16-second groundswell from the SW. Combined energy of 1554. Excellent conditions for experienced surfers. This is a top pick.

The 13th is a write-off. Onshore winds and a lumpy mess.

The 14th is a massive swell event. 15ft and 13ft SW groundswells, but the wind is directly onshore. This is a huge, powerful swell with onshore wind – a total mess for surfing, but it might be a good day for the kite surfers.

The 15th is a marginal, cross-shore day.

The 16th is a beauty. Wednesday morning the 16th has a 6ft, 15-second groundswell with a 6 mph offshore wind. Clean. The afternoon is glassy with a 7ft, 14-second swell. Excellent conditions.

The 17th is a bit of a mixed bag: a 7ft, 17-second swell but with a light cross-shore wind.

So, for the best of the best, I'm looking at the Sunday the 6th and Tuesday the 8th, and the Saturday the 12th. The Sunday the 6th has a solid 7ft SW groundswell with light cross-off winds, clean conditions. The Tuesday the 8th has that super-long-period 18-second groundswell with glassy conditions. The Saturday the 12th is another glassy day with a great 6ft, 16-second groundswell. For the beginners, the glassy Monday morning the 7th with the 3ft swell is your best bet. Get on it.

Rusty.

Read more