Redwood Creek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day surfers, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight – the next ten days are a battle. We’ve got a lot of small, wind-chopped, and just plain messy conditions on the menu, with precious few windows where you’d actually want to get wet. Don’t get too excited about the far-off bumps, either, as they’re a long way out. The overall energy in the water is weak to moderate for most of this period, with a few pulses of heavier but short-period, junky swell that won’t do us any favors.

The first real chance, and it’s a slim one, comes on Monday, August 24th. The swell is a tiny `0.6m` from the SW with a period of `18s`. That long period is a hint of some groundswell, but the wind is light and cross-shore, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and only for the most hopeful. Water temp at Redwood Creek is `15°`, pretty average for this time of year, so a 4/3 should do. From there, we fall into a groove of poor to marginal conditions through that week and into the weekend. The mornings have light offshore winds, but the swell is weak – mostly `0.5m` to `0.6m` – and inconsistent.

The end of the week gets messy. On Thursday afternoon, August 28th, and again on Saturday afternoon, August 30th, the swell bumps up to `5ft` and `6ft` from the NW, but the period collapses to a dismal `6s` and `7s`. That’s pure windswell, and with a moderate cross-onshore breeze, the surface will be chopped up and the waves sectiony. Not what you want. Far better to wait for the mornings, early on Sunday the 31st, which still has light offshore wind but only `2ft` of swell. It's a tease.

Now, the second week is where things get interesting. We see a big jump in the combined swell energy through the first half of September, with readings in the `600` to `700+` range, indicating proper, moderate to strong energy. The best-looking opportunity for a clean wave is on Thursday afternoon, September 3rd. The wind goes glassy, pure glass, with a light `WNW` breeze at `3 mph`. The swell is `2ft` from the SW with a period of `19s` – a long-period groundswell. This is the standout session for the whole period, but it’s small. It’s a clean, peelable wave on the river mouth – a longboard and patience are required.

The following weekend sees more energy but less quality. Sunday, September 6th has the biggest swell of the period, reaching `6ft` from the WNW with a period of `10s` in the afternoon, and the energy is strong (`730`). The wind is light offshore, which is good, but the period is moderate, and the wave might be a bit lumpy. It’s promising, but a week and a half out, I’d call it a “wait and see” call. The Monday after, September 7th, the wind picks up to `16 mph` from the NNW, cross-onshore, and it’ll be a blown-out mess. Not worth the drive.

Look, Redwood Creek is an exposed river break, and it needs the stars to align. It almost never breaks, and this forecast ain’t helping. For the first eight days, I’d honestly look at other things to do. The only date with a real “go” on it is Thursday afternoon, September 3rd – it’s clean, but small. If the bigger swell on Sept 6th firms up with less wind, that could be one for the experienced crew only, as it’s pushing `6ft` and you’re dealing with a river mouth. Stay patient, check the charts, and don’t force it.

Rusty out.

Read more