Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, this is Rusty with the lowdown on Raffs Beach. Let's talk about what's coming down the pike.

Water temp is sitting right around 57°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year. The next couple of weeks are a real rollercoaster, so let's get into it.

There's a lot of big, long-period groundswell coming from the SW, but it's going to take a few days to get the conditions right.

Wednesday, September 2nd is a bit of a dud. The morning has a clean 6ft swell but the wind is cross-off, and it's just not coming together. The afternoon gets worse with a messy, onshore chop on 7ft. Not worth suiting up.

Thursday, September 3rd is a beast. The swell jumps to 10ft with a 14-second period. The wave energy is huge (7141), but it's way too big for a beginner spot. Even with good wind, this is expert-only territory. Friday, September 4th is the same story – 10ft to 13ft, still massive, still clean, but getting dangerous. The wave energy peaks at 9675 on Thursday afternoon.

Saturday, September 5th is a total washout. Forget it. Strong winds, rain, and a messy, blown-out ocean. The energy is there (2136) but the quality is zero.

Sunday, September 6th is a nice change. The swell drops to 7ft, the wind goes light, and the afternoon turns glassy. The wave energy is still moderate (1544), but the conditions are clean. This is a good session for experienced surfers.

Monday, September 7th is small and clean but weak. 4ft and a 13-second period. The wave energy is low (427). It's a fun little morning, but nothing to get excited about. The afternoon is onshore and poor.

Tuesday, September 8th is the absolute standout. The morning is magic. We've got offshore wind from the NNW, glassy conditions, and a 4ft groundswell with a very long 18-second period. The wave energy is solid (1290), and that long period means the waves will be powerful and clean. The wind is perfect, the swell is from the right direction… this is the morning to be in the water. The afternoon gets onshore, but the morning is gold.

The middle of the second week gets messy again. Wednesday, September 9th is a no-go with onshore wind and building swell. Thursday, September 10th is another big-swell day with 12ft and glassy conditions, but it's just too oversized for a beach break. The wave energy is 6604. It's a big, powerful ocean.

Friday, September 11th offers a reprieve. The morning has offshore winds and a clean 6ft swell. The wave energy is 1516. It's a solid session for experienced surfers, but the wind is a bit fresh. The afternoon is smaller but still clean.

The rest of the second week is a mix. Saturday, September 12th is clean but a bit disorganized. Sunday, September 13th is dead calm and glassy, but the swell is tiny at 4ft. The wave energy is only 765. It's a nice paddle, but not a wave factory.

The real highlight of the second week is Tuesday, September 15th morning. It's clean, 5ft, with a decent 14-second period, and light offshore wind. The wave energy is 1074. For a Tuesday morning, it's going to be a quiet, clean, fun session.

After that, the forecast gets wild again. Thursday, September 17th sees another huge swell pulse, 12ft to 15ft, with wave energy hitting 21405. It's massive, but with onshore wind, it's a total washout for paddling. If you're a kiter, this might be your day, but for a regular surfer, it's a pass.

The Verdict: The best window is Tuesday, September 8th morning. Get it while it's glassy. The second best is Tuesday, September 15th morning for a quiet, clean session. There's a lot of heavy swell in between, so pick your windows carefully.

Stay safe out there.

- Rusty

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