Redhead Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – for the next couple of weeks, Redhead is mostly a write-off. We’ve got a big gap of flat, weak, or wind-blown days before a decent pulse shows up at the very end of the window. Let’s run through it.

The first sign of any rideable surf kicks off Sunday afternoon, August 9th, but it’s pretty ordinary. You’re looking at a weak 2ft swell from the ENE at 9 seconds, with a light northerly breeze making it cross-off. Combined energy is just 82, so it’s barely got any push. Water’s sitting at 64°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – a whole degree off, so you’ll want a good steamer. Honestly, it’s surfable but very ordinary.

Then we hit a massive dry spell. Monday the 10th through to Friday the 21st is basically one long gap. Morning of the 10th has a pulse of 4ft from the ENE with a strong 22 mph offshore from the NW, but the combined energy jumps to 254 – moderate wave energy – and the surf conditions are rated poor. The wind is too strong and raw for any real quality. The rest of that week and the next is all tiny dribble: 0.7ft to 2ft at best, short periods mostly around 6-9 seconds, and onshore or cross-onshore winds from the S, SSE, or SE. It’s flat and messy. Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st see a slight bump to 3ft and 4ft, but still with poor conditions and weak energy readings in the 70s and 100s. There’s nothing for a surfer here.

Now, the stand-out window finally arrives Saturday, August 22nd. This is the one to circle. Saturday morning, we get a clean 6ft swell from the east at 10 seconds, with a gentle offshore breeze from the north at 9 mph. The combined energy hits 546 – solid moderate wave energy – and the conditions are expected to be good. That’s the best of the whole 16-day forecast. The swell is a bit over 5ft, so it’s pushing into intermediate territory, but it’s not too big for most experienced paddlers. The east direction works well for Redhead’s optimum from the NE, and with that offshore wind, it’ll be clean and lined up. The only downer is it’s a reef break that’s fairly consistent, and it’s a beginner-friendly wave, so when it’s good, crowds are possible – expect some company. Saturday afternoon sees the wind pick up to a strong 19 mph from the NE, turning it cross-off and choppier, so morning is your window.

Sunday the 23rd still has size – 6ft from the ENE at 9 seconds – and combined energy hits 939, which is almost strong. But the wind is a cross-off from the NW at 19 mph, making the surf marginal. That’s a kite-surfing setup, not a paddler’s dream. Monday the 24th fades to 5-5ft with longer 11-second periods, but onshore south winds ruin it.

So, the only real highlight is Saturday morning, August 22nd at Redhead. Get in the water early. Promising, but the second week is always a bit less certain, so keep an eye on the forecasts. Rusty signing off.

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