Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let's talk about what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

First up, water temp at Raffs Beach is sitting at about 56°, which is pretty much what you'd expect for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary.

Now, looking at the forecast, we've got a slow start. The first swell worth paddling out for shows up on Friday the 17th, but it's looking a bit average. We've got a 7ft SW swell, but the wind is cross, so it's not going to be clean. The energy is strong at 2030, but it's a bit of a messy one.

The real standout kicks off on Saturday the 18th. The morning drops to 5ft from the SW, but the wind switches to a light cross-off, cleaning things up nicely. By the afternoon, it turns glassy. Absolutely flat calm. That 4ft SW swell with a 13-second period is going to be a dream. The combined energy is moderate at 560, but with zero wind, you're looking at some of the cleanest, most user-friendly waves of the window. This is the pick of the weekend for sure.

Sunday the 19th keeps it going with a smaller 3ft to 2ft SW swell, but the wind is offshore all day. Super clean conditions, perfect for the longboard or a fun twin-fin. The energy drops to 276, but it's still a fun little session.

Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st continue the trend. The swell hangs around 2ft to 5ft, mostly from the SW, with light offshore or cross-off winds. The waves will be clean, but the size is dropping. The 16-second period on Monday morning will give you some long lines, but it's small.

We hit a bit of a wall on Wednesday the 22nd. The wind picks up to 12 mph, making things choppy and cross, and the quality drops right off. That carries through to Thursday the 23rd when the swell bumps up to 8ft from the SW, with a strong energy reading of 2206. But the wind is on it, cross-onshore, so it's a messy, blown-out 8ft. Not great for paddling, might be more of a kite day.

Friday the 24th is a write-off. The swell hits 10ft from the SW, and the energy is pumping at 3768. But the wind is onshore, and the notes say it's too big for this break anyway. That's expert territory, and even then, the conditions are ugly.

From Saturday the 25th through to Tuesday the 28th, the swell stays in the 4ft to 7ft range, but the wind is a constant problem. It's cross-off, but blowing at 12 to 25 mph. The water will be clean, but it's going to be a windy, choppy mess. The energy is moderate to high, but the wind is making it unrideable for most of us.

The second half of the window is a tough one. The wind stays strong, and the swell direction is mixed. However, there is a glimmer of hope right at the end.

Friday the 31st of July is interesting. The morning is still a bit cross and lumpy with a 6ft SW swell, but the afternoon? Glassy. Zero wind. A 6ft SW swell with a 13-second period, energy of 971. That's a solid, clean wave for the afternoon.

And finally, Saturday the 1st of August is the other big standout. The morning is a bit windy, but the afternoon brings a 5ft SW swell, a 16-second period, and a moderate offshore wind. The energy is 1081, and the notes call it "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." That long period, 16 seconds, is going to produce some proper, powerful lines. Best for the reefs or points, as it might be a bit straight for the beach.

So, to sum it up: the best waves are Saturday the 18th for the glassy, clean conditions, and Saturday the 1st of August for the bigger, more powerful groundswell with a clean offshore wind. That last one is a week and a half away, so keep an eye on it, but it's looking promising.

Rusty.

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