Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, lookin’ at the surf rundown for Raffs Beach. This spot’s got a bit of a slow start, but there’s some real magic building for the patient ones.

We’re kickin’ off Tuesday the 4th of August, and to be honest, it’s a bit of a mess. The swell’s there at 6 ft from the SW, but that 30 km/h cross-off wind’s got the surface all jumbled. Water temp’s sittin’ at 55°, which is about what you’d expect for this time of year—nothing weird. The combined energy’s moderate (942), but the conditions are just marginal. The afternoon cleans up a touch with a 7 ft swell, but that cross-shore wind and rain showers make it a write-off for a decent paddle. Wednesday the 5th is even worse—drop in size, short period, and messy winds. Thursday the 6th is tiny, only 3 ft, so not worth wettin’ a suit.

Now, Friday the 7th of August—that’s where things start to look up. We’ve got a clean 5 ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period, and the wind is a gentle cross-off from the WNW. The combined energy’s strong (1007), and the morning session is rated as excellent for experienced surfers. This is a standout for the early window. The afternoon’s glassy with a light cross-shore, but the swell holds.

Saturday the 8th is a treat. Offshore winds from the N at 20 km/h, clean conditions, and that same 5 ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period. The combined energy’s strong (1082). This is clean, punchy, and the offshore breeze will have the waves standin’ up nicely. For a beginner-friendly break like Raffs Beach, this is about as good as it gets—crowds are possible, so get there early.

Sunday the 9th sees the swell drop a bit, and the offshore wind gets strong—40 km/h in the morning. That’s powerful offshore, but it’ll be hard to paddle into. The energy’s weak to moderate (647). Monday the 10th brings a new pulse: a 7 ft SW groundswell with a very long 18-second period, but the cross-shore wind from the WSW messes it up. The energy’s huge (3186), but the texture’s poor.

The real standout of the whole run is Tuesday the 11th of August. We’ve got 8 ft of SW groundswell, 16-second period, and a clean cross-off wind from the NW. The combined energy’s massive (3744). This is big, powerful, and clean. For a beginner break, 8 ft is a serious step up—this is for experienced surfers only. The swell’s long-period, so it’ll be better defined at the point or reef, but Raffs Beach is exposed, so it’ll still get the energy. This is the pick of the whole forecast.

Wednesday the 12th gets too big—13 ft of SW swell with an 18-second period. The energy’s insane (8508+), but it’s predicted to be too big for this break. Only for the absolute experts, and even then, it’s sketchy. The cross-shore wind’s not helpin’. After that, the swell drops back to 8 ft on Thursday the 13th, and the conditions are clean again—cross-off winds, strong energy (3611). This is another solid session for experienced surfers.

The second week sees the swell taper off. Friday the 14th holds 8 ft to 7 ft, clean in the morning, but not as big. Saturday the 15th drops to 4 ft in the morning with a very long 19-second period—clean, but small. The energy’s still strong (1697). Sunday the 16th of August is a gem: 5 ft SW groundswell, 15-second period, and glassy conditions with a light W wind. The energy’s moderate (952), but the glassy surface will make it silky smooth. This is a lovely, relaxed session for all levels.

Monday the 17th brings a nice 7 ft SW swell with an 18-second period, clean with a light cross-off from the ENE. The energy’s big (2689), and the conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th are smaller, in the 4 ft to 5 ft range, but clean. The 19th of August has a light breeze and clean waves—good for a fun, easy paddle.

So, the best on offer? Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th for the clean, manageable swell. But the absolute standout is Tuesday the 11th of August with that 8 ft, clean, long-period swell. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. After that, the 13 ft on the 12th is too big for this spot. The second week has some clean, smaller days, but nothing that’ll blow your mind.

Rusty, signing off.

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