Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get into it. For our stretch of coast, we're looking at a bit of a slow start, but there's some good stuff coming down the pipe.

First up, Raffs Beach. Water temp is running about normal for this time of year. We've got a run of clean, rideable surf starting Saturday morning. It's not big – 4ft of SW swell with a 16-second period – but that's a proper groundswell. The wind is offshore and the energy is moderate at 918. A good one to get your feet wet. The morning is the pick, as the afternoon wind picks up.

Sunday turns messy. The wind swings around hard, dropping the swell to 3ft and making things junky. Not worth the paddle. We'll sit that one out.

Monday is where things get interesting. The swell jumps to 5ft, still from the SW, and the period stretches out to a very long 19 seconds. The energy is strong at 1890. This is a powerful, clean groundswell with light offshore winds. It's got some push, so it'll be better for those with some experience. The morning is the window; the afternoon brings a 10ft monster with onshore wind, turning it into a washing machine. Too big for the break and messy as anything.

Tuesday and Wednesday are mixed. Tuesday has rideable waves, 4ft to 5ft, with clean conditions, but the quality is questionable. Wednesday morning looks a bit better with 7ft and clean conditions, but the wind is side-offshore. The afternoon gets blown out with rain and strong cross-shore winds – forget it.

Now, here's where we need to talk seriously. From Thursday the 13th through Friday the 14th, the swell really kicks in. We're talking 10ft to 12ft of SW swell with strong energy readings over 5000. The wind is favorable, but that size is just too big for this break. It's expert-only, and even then, it could be a total closeout. Unless you're a madman, give it a miss. That setup looks far more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The swell backs down for the weekend of the 15th and 16th. Saturday still has sizeable 8ft waves, but the wind is easing. It's not perfect. But then, Sunday the 16th morning is a real standout. The swell drops to a more manageable 6ft, the period is a solid 14 seconds, and the ocean goes glassy. It's clean, it's got energy, and it's going to be fun for those who know what they're doing.

The following week gets more inconsistent. Monday the 17th has small, clean waves in the 5ft range, but nothing mind-blowing. Tuesday the 18th morning picks up a little, with 4ft and clean offshore conditions. Then Wednesday the 19th morning looks like the best of that week – clean, offshore wind, and 5ft of SW groundswell with a 16-second period. Not huge, but it'll be clean and fun.

The swell fades a touch, but Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st have some size coming back. Friday the 21st morning has 8ft of SW swell, but with light, variable winds. It could be all over the place, but there's power in the water.

The final stretch, the 22nd and 23rd, looks like a return to cleaner, smaller conditions. Saturday the 22nd has 5ft and 5ft with light winds and a clean outlook. Sunday the 23rd is similar, with 4ft and 4ft and offshore winds. A nice, easy way to end the run.

If I had to call it, the standout is that Sunday the 16th morning – glassy, clean, and solid. The other one to watch is the long-period swell on Monday the 10th morning, but you'll want to be on it early before it gets too big and messy.

Keep an eye on the charts, but that's the long and short of it.

Rusty.

Read more