Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking at Raffs Beach.

The next couple of days are a bit of a write-off, but don’t lose hope. We’ve got a solid run of clean surf coming in from the end of the week. The water is sitting at 13° with a tiny anomaly of -0.2°, so it’s just about what you’d expect for this time of year – don’t bother with the thickest wetsuit just yet.

The first real chance to get wet kicks off Friday morning, 7 August. Early doors we’re looking at 1.4m (5ft) of SW swell ticking over at 16 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy. The wind is light and cross-offshore, so it’ll be clean. The combined swell energy is a solid 1036 (moderate), so there’s some push. That 1.4m (5ft) is a bit punchy for a beginner, but fine for the rest of us. The real standout is Friday afternoon: the wind drops to a glassy 5 km/h (3 mph) from the NNE, and the swell stays at 1.4m (5ft) with a 15-second period. The energy reading is 1080, and with that glassy surface, it’s going to be the best session of the week. The wave quality is excellent for the experienced surfer.

Saturday, 8 August, keeps the good vibes going. Morning has 1.5m (5ft) of SW swell (16 seconds) and a clean offshore breeze from the N at 15 km/h (9 mph). The combined energy jumps to 1182 (moderate). The wind picks up to 20 km/h (12 mph) in the afternoon but stays offshore, keeping the waves clean. The swell height holds at 1.5m (5ft) with a 15-second period. This is a solid day, but Friday afternoon takes the cake for me.

Now, a word of caution: Sunday, 9 August, is a no-go. The wind is howling offshore at 45 km/h (28 mph), and while the swell is still there at 1.1m (4ft), you’ll be fighting a hurricane just to get out. Hard pass.

Then it gets interesting again. Monday, 10 August, brings a new pulse of swell: 1.4m (5ft) in the morning, building to 1.7m (6ft) in the afternoon. The period is very long at 19 seconds – that’s some serious energy from deep water. The energy reading is 1765 in the morning and 2583 in the afternoon (strong). The wind is cross-shore, so expect a bit of chop, but the power is there. This is for the experienced crew.

Tuesday, 11 August, the swell gets bigger – 2.1m (7ft) in the morning, 2.5m (8ft) in the afternoon – with a 14-second period. The wind is cross-offshore, keeping it clean, and the energy is massive (1836 to 2763). However, 2.5m (8ft) is getting into expert territory. It’s a clean, powerful ocean, but not for the faint-hearted.

From Wednesday, 12 August, right through to Saturday, 15 August, the surf is too big. We’re talking 3.0m (10ft) to 5.0m (16ft) of SW swell. The wind is favorable, but the wave heights are just too much for this break. This is strictly for the experienced big-wave chargers, and even then, it’s a beast. The energy readings are off the charts (4004 to 18568). This is more kite-surfing territory if you ask me.

Things finally settle down again on Sunday, 16 August. Morning and afternoon both offer 1.9m (6ft) of SW swell with a 13-second period, light offshore winds, and excellent conditions. The energy is moderate (1191 and 1154). This is another proper day.

Monday, 17 August, is also good with 1.6m (5ft) of SW swell in the morning, dropping to 1.4m (5ft) in the afternoon. Light winds keep it clean. Good all-rounder.

The window closes out Tuesday, 18 August, with smaller 1.0m (3ft) waves, and Wednesday, 19 August, sees a return of 1.8m (6ft) to 1.9m (6ft) swell with a fresh offshore breeze, promising some clean, punchy lines.

Best bet: Without a doubt, Friday afternoon, 7 August. That glassy, 1.4m (5ft) groundswell is gonna be absolutely perfect. Saturday morning, 8 August, is a close second. Sunday, 16 August, is also a standout for the second week.

Rusty, signing off.

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