Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Raffs Beach.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. Sunday the 9th is a write-off with strong 25 mph winds ruining any chance of a good wave. The swell is there at 3 ft from the SW with a 14-second period, but the wind is a dealbreaker. The water temp is sitting at 55°, which is pretty much right on the money for this time of year.

Monday the 10th morning sees a pulse of energy, with a solid 5 ft SW swell and a very long 19-second period. The combined energy is massive, showing there’s plenty of power in the water. The wind is a cross-off, so it’s clean, but that period is so long it might make the waves a bit too straight for a beach break like this. Still, it’s the first real chance to get wet, and it’s a beginner-friendly spot, so worth a look if you can handle the lulls between sets.

The real standout, and the one you need to circle on your calendar, is Wednesday the 23rd of August. Monday the 24th is also decent, but the 23rd is the pick. We’ve got a 6 ft SW swell with a 17-second period, and the wind is glassy, absolutely glassy. The combined energy is strong, so there’s plenty of push. This is an excellent morning for experienced surfers, but that 6 ft might be a bit much for total beginners. The sets will be clean, lined up, and the paddle out will be manageable between the long gaps. This is a true highlight.

Before that, there’s some inconsistent, marginal stuff. The swell sticks around from the SW, but the wind is often cross or onshore, making it lumpy. From Thursday the 14th through to Saturday the 16th, the swell is big, between 7 ft and 8 ft, but the wind is garbage. That’s big, messy, and no fun on a paddleboard. If you’re into kites, that might be your window, but for us surfers, it’s a pass.

We get a little reprieve from Monday the 17th to Wednesday the 19th with smaller, cleaner waves. The wind is offshore or light, and the swell is in the 3 ft to 4 ft range with a 13-16 second period. Nice and clean, but not the big energy of the 23rd. Then Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st are back to poor conditions. Saturday the 22nd morning has a clean 4 ft swell with light offshore winds, a decent little session.

So, to wrap it up: the first few days are a bust. The middle of the forecast is a mix of too big with bad wind, or small with clean conditions. The absolute standout, the day to get excited about, is the morning of Sunday the 23rd of August. That’s your best bet. The 24th is also okay, but the wind turns onshore in the afternoon. Get on it while you can.

Rusty.

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