Red Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way.

Straight up, the first week or so is a total write-off for Red Beach. We’re looking at a solid stretch of tiny, weak swells that are barely pushing 0.3ft to 1ft for the first few days. The energy is pathetic, with values around 14 to 33 (weak), and the wind is all over the place – cross-off, cross, cross-on – none of it making for anything worth paddling out for. This is a frustrating start, a real dry spell that goes on from the 3rd of August right through to the 8th. You’re better off leaving the board in the garage.

Finally, we get a little pulse of life on the morning of the 9th of August. An early pick-up sees a 4ft swell from the N with a short period of 7 seconds, and the energy ticks up to 170 (moderate). The wind is a cross-off, so the surface will be clean. But the quality is still ‘ordinary’ at best, and the short period means the waves will be a bit fat and on the weaker side. By the afternoon, the swell drops back to 3ft and the energy falls to 78 (weak). Still not the one to get excited about.

The real story, the one that has me a bit emotional, is what happens around the 14th of August. The swell starts to build properly. On the morning of the 14th, we’re looking at 6ft from the ENE with a period of 7 seconds, and the energy jumps to 288 (moderate). The wind is offshore from the W, which is perfect for Red Beach. This is the first time we see a score of 2 out of 10, meaning the conditions are lining up. By the afternoon of the 14th, the swell is 6ft from the NE, period still 7 seconds, and the energy is 332 (moderate). The wind is a light cross-off, keeping it clean.

The absolute standout, though, is the morning of the 15th of August. You’re looking at a solid 6ft of NE swell, energy surging to 466 (strong), and the wind is a clean cross-off from the NW. It’s going to be a bit beefy at that size, so it’s not for the beginners, but for anyone who’s comfortable, this is the best wave on offer. The afternoon of the 15th gets a bit bigger at 7ft, but the wind picks up to a moderate breeze, making it a bit more marginal for tide.

The 16th of August is for the experts only. The morning swell hits 8ft from the NE, with energy at 769 (strong). That’s a big ocean, and the wind is a fresh cross-off. The afternoon of the 16th drops to 7ft with a longer period of 9 seconds and a fresh offshore, which could be a cleaner, more powerful wave, but still very heavy.

Water temp at Red Beach is sitting at 57°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year. It’s not shocking, but you’ll want a good wetsuit.

So, to sum it up: the first 11 days are a total bust. The one to circle on your calendar is the morning of the 15th of August. That’s the pick of the entire 16-day window. The 14th of August also offers a good, clean session, but the 15th has the most energy and shape. Keep an eye on the 16th if you’re a hard charger, but that’s a real beast.

Rusty.

Read more