Rainbow Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, and I’m looking at the next couple of weeks for Rainbow Bay. It’s a sheltered point break that’s pretty beginner-friendly, and it works best when the swell comes from the southeast. Right now, the water temp is sitting at 69°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The pattern for the next week or so is pretty flat and ordinary. There’s a big gap of mediocre conditions coming up, so don’t expect much until we get into the start of September. The first few days, from Wednesday the 19th through to the end of August, are mostly a write-off. We’ve got a small pulse on Wednesday afternoon with 5ft surf from the southeast and a moderate cross-off breeze, but it’s marginal and the energy is only moderate (631). Honestly, it’s just not worth paddling out for. Thursday the 20th has a bit of chest-high swell (5ft) from the east-southeast with a short period of 8 seconds and light cross-off wind, but the conditions are just ordinary. The rest of that week and into the next is a long dry spell – tiny waves, onshore winds, and poor quality. There’s a brief moment on Sunday morning the 23rd with glassy conditions and 3ft swell, but it’s still weak and uninspiring. The same goes for Monday morning the 24th. It’s a tough stretch for Rainbow Bay.

Now, the real standout is a long way off, but it’s looking promising. On Tuesday, September 1st, we start to see a shift. The swell picks up to 5ft from the southeast with a solid 14-second period, and the energy is strong (1067). That’s a proper groundswell on the way. The wind is a bit cross from the east, but it’s manageable. The following morning, Wednesday, September 2nd, is the pick of the entire forecast. There’s 6ft of swell from the south-southeast, a light cross-off breeze from the east-southeast, and the conditions are clean. The energy is very strong (1193). This is the one to circle on the calendar. It’s a long way out, so forecasts can change, but right now it looks like a sick session for those who can handle a bit of size. The swell direction is a little off the optimum SE, but it’s still going to wrap in nicely. Thursday morning, September 3rd, also looks good with 8ft from the south-southeast and clean conditions, though it’s pushing into bigger, more expert territory.

Overall, it’s a slow start and a long wait, but there’s a proper taste of winter groundswell coming in the first week of September. Keep your eyes on that Wednesday morning.

Rusty

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