Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Raffs Beach over the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a solid run of surf kicking off this Friday, the 17th of July, and it’s a cracker for the experienced crew. The water’s sitting at 56°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

Friday morning, the swell is a clean 7 ft from the SW, with a super long 16-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy. The wind is a light offshore from the NNW, 6 mph, keeping things clean. The combined energy is 2158, which is strong, and it’s got that deep, powerful feel. This is an exposed beach, so with that long period you’ll want to look for a peak that isn’t just closing out. The afternoon gets even better – glassy conditions with a 3 mph WNW breeze, and the swell only drops a touch to 7 ft. This is the standout window of the whole forecast. It’s too big for beginners, but for the experienced surfer, Friday is the day.

Saturday the 18th holds at a more manageable 5 ft in the morning, still from the SW with a 14-second period, and clean with a cross-off breeze. The afternoon glass-off at 4 ft could be a real treat for the intermediate crowd.

Sunday the 19th drops right down to 3 ft, and while it’s clean, it’s just not got the punch. The combined energy is down to 349, which is weak. Monday and Tuesday are similar, small and clean – fun for a log, but nothing to get too excited about. The combined energy stays in the weak to moderate range.

Then things get a bit angry. Wednesday the 23rd sees a jump in size to 8 ft, but the wind goes cross-shore and then cross-on, making it a choppy mess. Thursday the 24th is similar – 8 ft but with a messy cross-shore wind. The energy is huge (2523 to 2950), but the quality is poor. This stretch is more interesting for kite surfers than paddle surfers, truth be told.

Friday the 25th is still big, but the wind is a clean cross-off at 16 mph, which keeps it rideable for the experts. The energy is 2241. Saturday the 26th drops to a more comfortable 6 ft, but the wind is cross-shore, making it a bit bumpy.

Now, hold on to your board – Monday the 27th of July is a beast. The forecast shows 10 ft SW swell with a 16-second period, and a clean cross-off wind. The combined energy is 4795! But here’s the thing – it’s predicted to be too big for this break. Same for the 30th of July, with another 10 ft and clean offshore wind, but again, likely colossal for the spot. These are days for looking, not for paddling out unless you’re a true charger.

The very end of July and into August 1st is a write-off. The wind is onshore from the SE, bringing rain and lumpy, blown-out conditions. The swell is huge, 15 ft on the 1st of August, but it’s a total mess.

So, to wrap it up: Friday the 17th of July is your standout. The glassy afternoon session is the best of the best. Saturday morning is a solid second option. The second week has some clean, powerful swell, but it’s either too big for the break or the wind spoils it. There’s a big gap from the 22nd to the 23rd where the quality drops off, and then it’s a run of marginal or too-big days until the 29th, which looks clean and solid for experienced surfers again.

Rusty out.

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