Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I've been staring at the charts for Raffs Beach. Let’s break it down.

The water temperature is sitting at 55.6°, which is about 0.5° above the norm for this time of year, so nothing too wild there, just your standard cool water.

For the next few days, we've got a bit of a slow, building pattern. Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st are pretty marginal, with small, weak swells around 2ft to 4.3ft. The energy is low to moderate (217 to 1002), so don't expect much push. The wind is cross-offshore, which is nice and clean, but there just isn't enough juice. Friday afternoon is a bit better with a 3.6ft swell from the SW, but still not a standout.

Now, Saturday the 22nd afternoon is where it gets interesting. The swell jumps up to 10ft from the SW, with a solid 15-second period. That's a serious groundswell, and the energy is massive (6623). But here's the thing – this is a beach break, and with a long-period swell like that, it's going to be a heavy, closing-out mess. The wind is also a light cross-onshore, which isn't ideal. For a beginner, this is way too big, and even for most surfers, it's going to be a challenge. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, especially with the wind and wave size.

Sunday the 23rd afternoon is a solid option. The swell drops to a much more manageable 5.9ft from the SW, still with a 13-second period, and the energy is strong (1520). The wind is a clean, light cross-offshore, which is perfect. This is a good window for experienced surfers to get some clean, powerful waves.

The real standout, though, is Thursday the 27th afternoon. We've got a 4.3ft SW swell at 14 seconds, with a light offshore wind from the north. The energy is strong (1291), and conditions are described as excellent. This is a proper surfer's window.

Following that, Friday the 28th morning is also a beauty. The swell is a bit bigger at 6.2ft, with a very long 17-second period from the SW. The energy is pumping (2089), and the wind is a light cross-offshore. This is another top-tier slot for anyone who can handle a bit of size.

After that, there's a bit of a lull. The wind picks up, and the swell drops off. Keep an eye on Monday the 31st, though. Both morning and afternoon have a nice 3.9ft to 4.3ft SW swell with a 16-second period, clean winds, and good energy (919). It's a solid option for the start of the following week.

The rest of the outlook into the first week of September is pretty ordinary. The swells are small, the energy is low, and the winds are often onshore or messy. There's a brief window on Thursday the 3rd of September afternoon with a 3.6ft SSW swell, but the period is a short 7 seconds, so it's not going to be great.

So, to wrap it up: the best bet is the afternoon of Thursday the 27th and the morning of Friday the 28th for the cleanest, most powerful waves. Sunday the 23rd afternoon is a solid secondary option. The rest is a mix of waiting and hoping.

Read more