Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I'm looking at the next couple of weeks for Raffs Beach. The water temp is sitting at 55°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so don't expect any surprises when you get in.

First up, Monday the 17th isn't worth paddling out for. We've got a 5ft SW swell with a very long 16-second period, and that's pumping a fair amount of energy through, but that SE wind is wrecking it with a cross-onshore chop. Just not a good look.

Tuesday the 18th is where things start to turn. The morning is still a bit of a write-off with a solid cross-off wind, but by Tuesday afternoon we get a proper offshore from the NNE at 16 mph. The swell has dropped to a clean 3ft from the SW, and it's 14 seconds – that's quality. The water's gonna be clean, and this is the first real standout. It's a nice little window for a session.

Wednesday the 19th is a no-go. The swell is tiny, barely 2ft, and even with offshore winds, there's just nothing to surf. Thursday the 20th sees a slight bump to 3ft, but the wind is cross-off and the energy is average.

Now, Friday the 21st is another good day. The swell is back up to 4ft from the SW, period is a proper 15 seconds (groundswell), and the wind is a gentle cross-off from the NW. It's clean and the energy is solid. That's a good day to be in the water.

Saturday the 22nd is a big one, but maybe too big. The swell jumps to 7ft in the morning, then a massive 10ft in the afternoon from the WSW. That afternoon push is too much for a beginner spot – this is expert territory only. The morning might be doable for the more experienced crew, but that afternoon is for the brave or the kamikaze.

Sunday the 23rd is the real pick of the week. A 7ft SW swell with a nice 14-second period, light cross-off wind from the WNW, and excellent conditions noted. This is solid, clean surf that's big enough to get a move on but not a total beast. If you've got the skill, this is your morning.

After that, we've got a run of smaller, cleaner days through Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th. That Tuesday afternoon is special – the wind goes glassy with 4ft of swell. Gorgeous conditions for a longboard or a funboard.

The rest of the week into the 26th and 27th is pretty weak, with the swell dropping to under 3ft. Not worth rushing for.

We jump ahead to Friday the 28th, and there's a big spike: 8ft from the SW, but the wind is a fresh cross-shore, making it a lumpy, messy mess. Not great for the paddle surfer, honestly looks more interesting for a kite session. That's a long way out, so keep an eye on it, but it's a wait-and-see.

Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are mostly messy or tiny, with onshore winds. The Sunday morning does have a 8ft swell, but it's a short-period 8-second windswell, so it'll be weak and messy.

Looking way out to Monday the 31st, we've got 5ft but it's cross-shore. The real promise is Tuesday the 1st of September. The morning is clean with a moderate offshore from the NNE, a 4ft swell, and a very long 17-second period. That's a long-period groundswell, which at a beach break like Raffs might be a bit too straight, but if it lines up, it'll be a ripper. The afternoon picks up to 5ft with the same offshore wind. That's the long-range standout to pencil in.

To sum it up, the best solid, clean surf is Sunday the 23rd. For a lighter, glassy session, Tuesday the 25th afternoon is a gem. And if you want to plan ahead, Tuesday the 1st of September could be a cracker, but it's a long way out.

Rusty.

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