Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming up for Raffs Beach over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, the water temp is sitting at 55°, which is pretty much standard for this time of year – nothing unusual there.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but it kicks off properly on Sunday, July 26th. The morning is a bit of a write-off with a cross-offshore breeze and 6ft SW swell, but the afternoon cleans up. Light WNW breeze at 6 mph, 5ft SW swell and clean conditions. The wave energy is moderate (515). It’s a decent little session for a beginner, but nothing to write home about.

Monday, July 27th, gives us a proper offshore wind from the NNW in the morning at 6 mph. The swell drops to 5ft from the SW, but it’s clean. The energy is moderate (474). The afternoon gets a bit windier, so grab the morning if you can.

The middle of the week gets messy. Tuesday, July 28th, has a fresh breeze kicking up and the swell period jumps to 13-14 seconds, but the winds are cross-off or cross-on, making it marginal. The energy is starting to build (873 and 1882 in the afternoon), but the quality isn’t there.

Then Wednesday, July 29th, is a write-off. A solid 12ft to 10ft of SW swell rolls in, but it’s accompanied by a fresh cross-onshore wind at 19 mph. The wave energy is massive (6113), but it’s going to be a choppy, lumpy mess. This is more for the kite crew than paddlers. Thursday the 30th is still a bit lumpy with a 7ft SW swell, but the cross-shore wind keeps it from being clean.

Now, here’s where it gets good. Friday, July 31st, is a standout. The morning is clear, with a light 6 mph WNW cross-offshore breeze and 5ft of SW swell. The energy is moderate (649), and it’s clean. Expect very good conditions. The afternoon is okay, but the morning is the pick.

Saturday, August 1st, is another gem. Light offshore N wind in the morning, 4ft SW swell, clean. The afternoon is also clean with a cross-offshore breeze. The energy is moderate (623 and 606). Perfect for a beginner-friendly, fun weekend session.

But the real highlight? Look at Sunday, August 2nd. A moderate offshore N wind at 12 mph, 5ft to 6ft of SW swell, and a long period of 15-17 seconds. The energy is strong (1270 to 1771). This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The long-period groundswell means the waves will have real shape and power, but at a beach break, it might be a bit straight. Still, with that offshore wind, it’s going to be clean and punchy. That’s your best day on offer.

After that, there’s a bit of a mixed bag. Monday, August 3rd, sees a fresh cross-offshore wind, making it marginal. Tuesday, August 4th, has a similar story with a 7ft SW swell, but the wind is cross-offshore, so it’s clean but not perfect.

Wednesday, August 5th, is another solid day for experienced surfers. Light offshore wind from the N in the morning, 8ft SW swell with a 16-second period, and strong energy (2960). It’s a big, powerful groundswell, so you’ll need to be on your game.

Thursday, August 6th, is a bit smaller. Friday, August 7th, is a big one – 8ft SW swell with a 15-second period, cross-offshore wind, and very strong energy (2816). That’s another expert-only day, but it’ll be clean and powerful.

Saturday, August 8th, gives us a morning with a 8ft S swell, but the period drops to 8 seconds, which is a short-period windswell. The afternoon brings back a solid 7ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period, light wind, and very strong energy (2154). Another excellent session for the experienced crew.

The second week gets a bit inconsistent. Sunday, August 9th, has a moderate offshore wind with 5ft to 5ft of SW swell, but the energy is moderate to strong. Monday, August 10th, is messy with cross-onshore wind and rain showers, making for poor surf.

So, overall, the best of the best is Sunday, August 2nd, for the combination of offshore wind, clean conditions, and that long-period groundswell bringing real power. The close runner-up is Wednesday, August 5th, and Friday, August 7th, for the big, clean, expert-only waves.

Rusty out.

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