Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a solid run of swell on the way for Raffs Beach, but this one is going to be a wild ride and not for the faint of heart. The first half of the period is packed with serious, powerful groundswell that is going to be way too big for beginners.

The action starts on Wednesday, 2nd September. We’re looking at a clean 6 ft swell from the SW with a very long 16-second period, making for some real energy. The wave energy is a massive 1928 (moderate), but the wind is a cross-off shore, so it’ll be clean. This is already too big for learners, and the afternoon gets bigger and lumpier with a cross-shore wind. This is just the warm-up.

Thursday, 3rd September, is where things get serious. We’ve got a 10 ft swell from the SW on Thursday morning, and the wave energy has jumped to 3169 (strong). The wind is cross, so it’s not perfect, but it’s rideable. The afternoon is a monster: 15 ft from the SW with a wave energy of 11282 (very strong). This is expert-only territory. The swell is too big for this break, so unless you’re a seasoned charger, give it a miss.

Friday, 4th September, is the standout of the first week. The swell is still a solid 10 ft from the SW, long period of 16 seconds, and the wave energy is a strong 4318. But here’s the magic: the wind is a cross-off shore from the NNW, keeping the faces clean. This is going to be a proper, powerful, clean groundswell. This is the one to circle if you’ve got the skills. The water temp is 57°, which is about 1° warmer than average, so pretty normal for this time of year.

The weekend gets messy. Saturday, 5th September, is a write-off. The wind is howling at 28 mph in the morning, and the afternoon is a total mess of cross-shore chop. Sunday, 6th September, has a clean morning with a 7 ft swell and a gentle breeze, but the wave energy is dropping. The experienced surfers will have a fun session, but it’s not the highlight.

Monday, 7th September, is a dud with onshore winds and little swell. Tuesday, 8th September, is marginal, with a long 18-second period groundswell but cross-off winds. The paddle out will be easier with the long gaps between sets, but the quality is only so-so.

Now, here’s a big gap. From Wednesday, 9th September, through to Monday, 14th September, we get a run of poor conditions. The wind is either fresh onshore or cross-on, and the swell is either too big for the break or just messy. Wednesday, 9th September, is a total loss with fresh cross-onshore winds and a 10 ft swell. Thursday, 10th September, has a 12 ft swell from the SW with a very long 18-second period, but the wind is onshore – it’s too big and blown out. The rest of that week is a write-off.

The next real chance comes on Friday, 11th September. This is your second standout. We’ve got a 6 ft SW swell with a 14-second period, and the wind is offshore from the N. The wave energy is 1413 (moderate). This is clean, offshore, and glassy. The swell is a bit smaller, but the conditions will be perfect. It’s a much better size for a wider range of surfers, but still a bit much for pure beginners.

Saturday, 12th September, has a fresh offshore breeze with a 6 ft swell, but it’s a bit on the windier side. It’s still a fun option. Sunday, 13th September, is marginal with a clean morning but winds that turn onshore in the afternoon.

Then we hit another gap. The week of Monday, 14th September, through to Wednesday, 16th September, is a total bust. The swell drops to under 3 ft, and the wind is onshore or cross. Not worth paddling out.

The final chance of the forecast is Thursday, 17th September. We’ve got a 8 ft swell from the SW with a 16-second period, and the wind is cross. The wave energy is 3000 (strong). It’s marginal, but it’s a late pulse of energy. Could be a sneaky session if the wind plays ball.

So, to wrap it up: Friday, 4th September is the clear standout for the big-swell crew. Clean, powerful, and long-period. For those who want a bit more manageable size with perfect conditions, Friday, 11th September is your pick. The rest of the run is either too big, too windy, or too small.

Rusty.

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