Redbill Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, looking at the local forecast for Redbill Beach. Let’s be straight with you.

So, we start off this Wednesday the 19th with a blend of conditions. There is some swell around – 7ft from the NNE with a short 8-second period and a moderate combined swell energy of (508). But it’s clean? Not really. It’s cross-shore wind and the word on the street is marginal, with questionable tide. Thursday the 20th looks a bit better, a cleaner cross-off breeze from the NW and a dropping swell, still around 6ft to 5ft from the NNE, period still short at 8 seconds. The energy is moderating down from (437) to (297). It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about.

Friday the 21st, the swell drops right off. We’re looking at 3ft on the morning from the NNE, period dropping to 7 seconds, energy way down to (97). The wind is light and offshore from the W though, so if you’re desperate for a tiny clean wave, you could find a fun knee-high one. It’s ordinary but clean. The rest of the week into the next is a real struggle. Saturday and Sunday the 22nd and 23rd have very small waves, mostly under 2ft with weak energy, though the winds stay light and clean. By Monday the 24th, the swell gets even smaller and the period goes long – 14 seconds on a 2ft south swell. That long period groundswell at a beach break like this will be breaking too straight and weak; it’s only got (101) energy. It’s a poor surf forecast.

Then we hit a real dry patch. From Tuesday the 25th through the 29th of August, conditions are poor to ordinary. There's a bit of short-period bump on the 25th (4ft, 6 seconds, 110 energy) but the wind goes cross-shore and chop shows up. The rest are all small, low-energy, and often with poor wind states. Honestly, it’s a pretty blank run for Redbill, and that’s not unusual for this exposed east-facing beach when the trade winds or northerlies get up.

Now, hold onto your board, because the end of the month has a standout moment. On Monday morning the 31st of August, the conditions all click. The wind goes glassy – dead calm from the ESE at 3 mph, and we have a 3ft south swell with a moderate 11-second period and a combined energy of (232). That groundswell period is long enough to give the waves some shape and push, but not so long that it’ll close out. With glassy conditions, Redbill Beach will look as good as it can for this size. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. Get on it first light.

After that, it fades again. Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd of September are back to tiny, glassy conditions with very small swell. A few knee-high peelers if you have a longboard, but mostly flat. By Thursday the 3rd, the wind picks up from the south at 12 mph, putting a chop on the small 2ft swell. Not worth the paddle.

So, bottom line: the best surf on offer is that Monday morning the 31st. It’s a clean, glassy session on a 3ft south swell. Mark it on your calendar. The rest is mostly small and marginal. For an exposed beach break like this, a long run of poor surf is not unusual when the winds are unfavourable. But keep an eye on it, forecasts can change.

- Rusty

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