Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s have a look at what’s coming up for the next couple of weeks.

We’re looking at a pretty solid run of surf at Raffs Beach, but it’s a tale of two weeks. The first week has the most to offer, with some real quality days, especially for the more experienced crew. The second week gets a bit messy and inconsistent, with a few days of nothing special.

Starting off, Wednesday the 15th, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a solid 8ft SW swell, but the wind is cross-off in the morning, then goes cross in the afternoon. The water’s sitting at 56°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year. The combined energy is strong (2035), but the conditions are just marginal. It’s not a write-off, but it’s not the best.

Thursday the 16th is similar – borderline. The swell holds at 8ft from the SW, with a long 14-second period, so there’s plenty of grunt (2533 energy). Thursday afternoon the wind goes onshore, which is a shame. Still, it’s not a day to get too excited about if you want clean waves.

Now, Friday the 17th is where it starts to get good. The morning brings a 7ft SW swell with a very long 16-second period, and the wind is a light cross-off. The energy is still strong (1987). The water’s still clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The afternoon looks even better with the same swell and a slight cross-off breeze. The wave quality is described as excellent.

Saturday the 18th is the standout of the first week. The swell drops a touch to 5ft, but the period is still a solid 14 seconds, and the wind is a light cross-off. The combined energy is moderate (852). The conditions are clean and the surf is “very good”. This is a day for everyone, beginners included, as long as you’re comfortable in that size. The crowd factor is “sometimes” here, so you might have some company, but it’s not a circus.

Sunday the 19th sees the swell drop to 3ft, but the wind goes offshore, making for clean, fun waves. It’s a good day for a longboard or a funboard. The energy is weak (336), but the quality is there.

Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st are similar – small but clean, with offshore winds. The swell is 3ft to 4ft, perfect for the smaller craft. The energy is weak (240-450). Good for a paddle.

Then we hit a bit of a lull. Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd are rough. Wednesday has marginal conditions with a rising wind, and Thursday gets a bit bigger (5ft to 8ft) but with a strong cross-shore wind and chop. It’s not great for a paddle.

Friday the 24th is a big one, but it’s for experts only. The swell jumps to 10ft from the SW, with a very long 17-second period. The energy is very strong (4528). The wind is cross-onshore, making it choppy. It’s also predicted to be too big for the break. Unless you’re a seasoned charger, give this one a miss.

The last week of the forecast (from the 25th to the 30th) is a mixed bag of small, marginal surf and some bigger, messy days. Saturday the 25th has a 7ft swell but moderate winds. Sunday the 26th drops to 5ft, still with moderate wind. It’s not a classic run. The 28th has a tiny 1ft swell with a very long 18-second period, but the wind is strong offshore. It’s clean, but it’s small.

The 30th looks like a small, clean day with a 3ft SW swell and an offshore wind. A nice way to finish the window, but nothing to get the heart racing.

For the best on offer, I’d be looking at Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th. Friday is the one for the experienced surfers, with that 7ft, long-period groundswell and clean conditions. Saturday is the best all-rounder, with 5ft clean waves that are just right for anyone who’s been in the water a few times.

Rusty.

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