Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next couple of weeks out at the reef.

First thing you need to know: this is a tough stretch. We’re looking at wave energy that’s barely tickling the reef, and the wind is almost never on our side. The surf is small, weak, and messy for the vast majority of the time. The combined swell energy doesn’t crack the 200 mark (moderate) until the 12th of August, and even then, it’s mostly cross-onshore chop. There’s a long gap of poor conditions from Saturday the 8th all the way through to the 20th of August, with nothing worth paddling out for. The only bright spot I can see is a very brief window at the very end of the forecast.

Let’s talk about the one and only standout. On the morning of Friday, the 21st of August, the reef goes glassy. Literally glassy. The wind is a slight air, and the sea surface is flat calm. The swell is tiny, just 0.7 ft from the SSW, with a period of 13 seconds, so it’s a long-period groundswell. The combined energy is only 32, so it’s weak, but that clean, glassy surface will be the cleanest surf you’ll see in the entire 16-day period. It’s the only moment where the conditions might actually line up for a few silky, lined-up waves. For a spot that’s exposed and usually dealing with cross-wind, this is a rare treat.

Then, on the morning of Sunday, the 23rd of August, we get another glassy moment. The wind shifts to a light ESE, again glassy, with a tiny 1 ft NW swell at 12 seconds. Combined energy of 33. Again, it’s small, but it’s clean. That’s the only other window.

The rest of the forecast is a write-off. The wind is either cross, cross-on, or fresh, and the swell is either too small or too short-period to do anything fun. The reef is an advanced, exposed spot, and with the onshore chop, it’s going to be a lumpy mess. The water temperature anomaly is about average for the time of year, so no wetsuit surprises.

Honestly, if you’re not willing to wait until the 21st, you’re better off doing something else. The days before that are just a long, frustrating gap of poor surf. For the few tiny windows of glass, it’s worth a quick session, but don’t expect much size.

Rusty.

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