Raffs Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mates, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Raffs Beach. This is a solid stretch of sand, nice and open, and it’s set up to catch a decent south-southwest groundswell. The water’s sittin’ at about 13°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real chance for a paddle kicks off Saturday, the 8th of August. Now, it’s not gonna be a world-beater, but it’s a start. Saturday morning you’ve got a 1.3m swell from the SW, with a long 16-second period, and a clean, offshore NNE breeze. The combined energy is moderate (918). It’s a beginner-friendly wave, so it’s a good day to get the cobwebs out. The afternoon stays pretty similar, but the wind picks up a bit to 25 km/h from the north, still offshore, so it’s still rideable.

Sunday, the 9th, is a write-off. The wind goes nuts from the NNE at 40 km/h, and the swell drops to 1.0m. The energy is weak (394). Just leave the board in the car.

Now, Monday the 10th... that’s the first little standout. The morning session is a beauty. The swell jumps to 1.6m from the SW, with a very long 19-second period, and the wind is light from the NW, creating clean conditions. The combined energy is strong (2006). This is a classic groundswell, and it’ll be a ripper for experienced surfers. The long period means it’ll be a bit straighter on the beach, so you’ll want to pick your lines, but the power is there. The afternoon turns nasty though – a cross-onshore SW wind at 30 km/h and a lumpy 2.4m swell. That’s a no-go.

Tuesday the 11th is a bit of a mixed bag. The morning is clean with a 1.3m SW swell and moderate energy (968), but the tide might be a bit fussy. The afternoon is better, with a 1.6m swell and a fresh offshore northerly at 30 km/h, pushing the energy up to 1019. It’s a solid afternoon session.

Wednesday the 12th has some serious size. The morning sees a 2.4m SW swell with a 16-second period and strong energy (3403), but the wind is a cross-offshore, so it’s clean. This is getting into the big stuff for a beginner, but for the crew who know what they’re doing, it’s game on. The afternoon is messy with a cross-shore wind, so the morning is the clear call.

Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th are big, big days. Swell is pumping at 3.0m from the SW, with a 16-second period, and the energy is very strong (over 4000). But, and this is a big but, the break is predicted to be too big for this spot. The wind is favorable, but that much water moving around at Raffs Beach is gonna be a washing machine. Only for the absolute experts, and even then, it’s a mission.

The swell drops back down into the 2.0m-2.5m range for the rest of that week, with a mix of tricky cross-onshore winds. It’s not prime time until we get to Monday the 17th. That morning is a gem. The swell is a clean 1.5m from the SW, 14-second period, and the wind is glassy – dead calm from the NE at 5 km/h. The energy is moderate (866). That’s a session you’ll be telling your mates about. Perfect, clean, glassy conditions.

The run from the 18th to the 20th is a bit of a mixed bag, with some clean mornings (especially the 18th and 19th) with waves in the 1.0m to 1.3m range, light offshore winds, and good energy. It’s not pumping, but it’s fun.

Then, on Friday the 21st of August, we get another standout morning. The swell jumps back up to 1.7m from the SW with a 15-second period, and the energy is strong (1365). The wind is light from the ENE, keeping it clean. This is excellent for experienced surfers. The afternoon gets a bit onshore, so hit it early.

The final weekend on the 22nd and 23rd has some solid action. Saturday the 22nd afternoon is a beauty: 1.6m SW swell, 17-second period, a fresh offshore NNE wind at 25 km/h, and the energy is strong (1462). That’s a great way to finish the run. Sunday the 23rd is a bit windier, with a fresh offshore wind, but still clean, so you’ll get some waves.

So, to wrap it up: the best two windows are Monday the 10th morning for the big, clean groundswell, and Monday the 17th morning for the perfect, glassy conditions. Don’t bother with the 3.0m days unless you’re a total animal. The rest of the time, just pick your mornings with the offshore winds.

Rusty out.

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