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.

The next week and a half is a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got some solid swell on the way, but the wind is going to be the main character in this story for a while. The water temperature is sitting about average for the time of year, so nothing to write home about there.

The first few days are a bit of a write-off, honestly. Wednesday morning kicks off with a 5ft SW swell, but it’s got a cross-on wind and feels pretty lumpy. The combined energy is moderate at (1054), but the conditions are just not there. Wednesday afternoon is even worse, with a 5ft swell and onshore winds, scoring a big fat zero. Thursday morning, the 27th, things start to settle. The swell drops to 2ft from the SW, but we get a light cross-offshore breeze. The wave energy is weak (352), but the surf is clean. It’s a small-wave day for the longboard. Friday the 28th sees the swell build back to 4ft, but with a very long period of 18 seconds from the SW and a cross-shore wind, creating a cross-chop. The energy jumps to (1564), but it’s not pretty. Friday afternoon gets a bit bigger at 6ft, but the onshore wind kills it.

The weekend is frustrating. Saturday the 29th morning has a 5ft SW swell and light cross-shore winds, but it’s just marginal. Sunday the 30th morning gives us a 5ft SW swell with a light cross-shore breeze, energy at (1071), but the tide or something else is holding it back. The scores are low.

Now, Monday the 31st of August. This is the standout. The swell pulses to 7ft from the SW with a period of 15 seconds, and the wind is light and offshore from the NNE. The combined energy is strong (1986 – 2073). This is a proper groundswell with clean conditions. This is for the experienced crew only, as 7ft is getting up there, and the long period will make it wall up. Expect crowds to be possible.

Tuesday the 1st of September keeps the offshore flow, but a fresh 19 mph wind from the NNW makes it a bit of a battle. The swell is 5ft from the SW, so it’s still clean on the face, but that wind will be a handful. The energy is moderate (1182).

The second week looks solid but messy. Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd have onshore and cross-shore winds messing with a 6ft to 7ft SW swell. Then Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th of September look promising. The swell builds to 8ft from the SW with a period of 16 seconds, and the wind is cross-offshore in the morning. The energy is massive (3988 on Saturday morning). This is expert territory, and the long period works best at a point break or reef, not a beach. The conditions are clean, but the size and power are serious. The afternoon of the 5th gets a bit lumpy, but still solid. The 6th of September brings a 22 mph WSW wind, rendering that 8ft swell a complete mess. There’s a window on the 9th of September, Wednesday morning, with a 7ft SSW swell and a cross-offshore breeze, energy at (2643), but it’s a long-range call. The 10th of September is a washout.

So, the real winner here is Monday the 31st of August. Clean, offshore, proper groundswell energy. If you’re experienced and can handle the size, that’s your session. The Saturday the 5th of September is also a stand-out for the big wave crew, but it’s a week and a half out, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty out.

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