Rat Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Rat Beach.

To be straight with you, the next 16 days are a real mixed bag, and you’re going to have to pick your moments carefully. The swell is tiny and inconsistent, and the wind is our constant enemy. There’s no standout, world-class day in here, but there are a few windows where a clean, glassy or offshore morning could give you a fun little knee-to-waist high wave if you’re desperate.

The first real chance to get wet comes on Thursday, August 20th. Early morning, it’s clean with a light cross-offshore breeze from the SSE at 9 mph. Now, the swell is a paltry 1.0 ft from the SW, but it’s got that long period of 19 seconds behind it. The combined energy is weak (71), so it’s not going to have any punch. That long period means the sets will be spaced out, and on a reef like Rat Beach, it might actually shape up a bit better than the short-period slop we see later. It’s a beginner-friendly wave at this size, but it’s inconsistent, so don’t expect a wave every minute.

The next morning worth waking up for is Saturday, August 22nd. The wind goes glassy – dead calm – with a light SW breeze at just 3 mph. The swell is still a tiny 1.0 ft from the SW, but again, with a long 18-second period (weak energy, 61). It’s going to be a mirror-like surface, and if you’ve got a longboard, you might snag a few pretty little peelers. Just keep your expectations in check.

After that, things get a bit messy. The wind turns onshore in the afternoons, and the swell stays small. We get a tiny bump in energy around Tuesday, August 25th morning – another glassy start with a 2 ft SW swell (moderate energy, 212). The period drops to 16 seconds, still a groundswell, so it’s worth a look if you’re local and the urge is strong. The same goes for Wednesday, August 26th morning, with clean cross-offshore winds and a 2 ft SW swell.

Looking further out, we start to see a shift in swell direction. From Saturday, August 29th onwards, the swell swings to the west, with a short, weak period of 6 to 7 seconds. This is windswell, not the good stuff. The mornings on the 29th and Sunday, August 30th are clean and glassy, with the swell building from 2 ft to 3 ft. The energy is still weak (57-69), but the glassy conditions on Sunday morning could make for a fun few rides on a longer board.

The biggest swell of the period arrives on Monday, August 31st morning, with a 4 ft west swell. But the period is a short 7 seconds, and the wind is a light cross-shore, which is not ideal. The combined energy (157) is moderate, but it’s going to be a bit lumpy and lack the push of a proper groundswell. It’s still small enough for a beginner, but the quality won’t be there.

Tuesday, September 1st morning sees a big drop in swell, and the rest of the forecast fades into weak, onshore-affected slop. On Wednesday, September 2nd, the swell direction swings back to the SW with a long period of 17 seconds, but the moderate cross-onshore wind will ruin it.

So, to sum it up: the best chance for a clean, glassy surf is on Saturday, August 22nd, and again on Tuesday, August 25th and Wednesday, August 26th mornings. Sunday the 30th is also promising for a glassy session. The waves will be small, inconsistent, and for longboards or funshapes only. The water temperature is about average for the time of year.

Don't expect much, and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Rusty.

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