Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's chew the fat about what's coming up at Raffs Beach.

First up, there’s a little quiet spell, but the first real action hits Monday morning the 17th of August. It’s not massive, with a 4ft swell from the SW, but the key is the wind. It’s a light cross-offshore breeze, making for clean conditions. The water is sitting at 55°, which is pretty standard for this time of year. The combined swell energy is a solid 643 – nothing to write home about, but enough for a fun session. The 13-second period gives it some grunt, so you’ll feel it. For a beginner-friendly spot like this, it’s a good kick-off.

Monday afternoon sees the swell bumping to 5ft with a very long 16-second period, and the energy jumps to 1154. That’s some solid power coming through. But the wind swings to a cross-on from the SE, and it gets a bit choppy, so it’s more of a "keep an eye on it" than a standout.

Tuesday morning the 18th is a washout with a strong cross-offshore wind, but Tuesday afternoon the wind swings offshore from the NNE at 25 km/h (15 mph), cleaning up the 3ft SW swell nicely. It’s clean, it’s offshore, and the energy (508) is light but workable.

Wednesday the 19th is a no-go. Gutsy winds and rain ruin the party.

The real standout, the one to circle on the calendar, is Sunday the 23rd of August. The morning session is the pick of the bunch. We’ve got a clean 6ft SW swell with a 14-second period, pushed by a gentle offshore breeze from the NW. The combined energy is 1932 – that’s beefy, powerful stuff. The conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. Now, this is an exposed beach, so with a long-period swell like that, it might be a bit walled up and closing out, but with 6ft and clean offshore wind, it’s a prime window. For a more seasoned surfer, this is the one. The swell is over 5ft, so beginners should give it a miss.

Saturday the 22nd is also worth a look with a 7ft swell in the morning (1880 energy) and clean conditions, but the wind is a little stronger. It’s a solid backup. The 29th of August has a massive 12ft swell in the afternoon, but that’s way too big and is noted as being too big for this break. That’s expert-only territory and only if you’re keen for a real battle.

Late in the window, Sunday the 30th of August morning looks lovely. It’s back to 4ft from the SW, with an offshore breeze and clean lines. The combined energy is a very manageable 927. It’s a classic clean, small day.

Overall, the best bet for a quality, clean, powerful session is Sunday morning the 23rd. The first week is a mix of small clean windows and bumpy afternoons. The second week has a few more clean and promising slots, especially the 30th. Remember, crowds are "sometimes" an issue here, so if it looks perfect, you won’t be alone.

Stay stoked,
Rusty.

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