Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's dive into the outlook for Raffs Beach.

This is a classic stretch of sand that's exposed to the south-west, and it's a beginner-friendly spot when the conditions line up. The water temp is sitting about average for the time of year, so nothing weird there.

The forecast kicks off now, but honestly, we've got a bit of a dry spell for any decent waves. The first few days are a write-off. Monday the 14th is small and messy with a cross-off breeze – you'll see the swell at just 3ft from the SW with a long 13-second period and the combined energy is weak. Monday afternoon goes from bad to worse with a howling cross-shore. Tuesday the 15th through to Thursday the 17th is just giant, lumpy, and blown out with the swell pushing over 8ft and even past 10ft. That's too big for beginners and the wind is just wrecking it.

We finally see a glimmer of hope on Friday the 18th. The morning session looks clean with a 5-6ft SW swell and a nice 13-second period. The wind is a clean cross-off from the NW, energy is moderate. It's still a little marginal, but it's the first real chance to get wet and not feel like you're wrestling an octopus.

The standout window, and what could be the best of the whole forecast, arrives a week away on Tuesday the 22nd of September. This is the one to circle on the calendar. We've got a solid 8ft SW groundswell with a very long 16-second period pushing in, and the combined energy is pumping. But the kicker? The wind is forecast to be a gentle offshore from the north for the morning session. That'll groom the face, making it clean and offering up some proper lines. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers though – that size and long-period will shut down a bit and wall up, so it's not one for the beginners. The beach break might get a bit straight, but if you can find the bank, it'll be firing. Expect crowds to be possible.

After that, Wednesday the 23rd is still big and clean in the morning, but that energy starts to drop off. The end of the month has a few more sessions worth watching, like Sunday the 27th with a very long 17-second period and a huge 8ft swell, but the wind is iffy. Monday the 28th morning brings a return of clean conditions and a 6-7ft SW groundswell, which will be a great fallback option for the experienced crew, but Tuesday is your true standout.

So, to sum it up: the next week is mostly a waiting game. If you want to get out, Friday the 18th is your safest bet for some clean small waves. But if you've got the skills, mark Tuesday the 22nd down – that's the day it could all come together. Just be ready for some crowd factor.

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