Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your wettie, ‘cause I’m gonna walk you through the next couple of weeks. To be honest, it’s a pretty grim stretch ahead. We’ve got a long run of tiny, messy surf and shifting winds that aren’t doing us any favors.

The window kicks off on the 18th of August with practically nothing on offer. We’re talking ankle-biters at best, with a weak 0.7ft SSW groundswell and a cross-onshore breeze. The water temp is 68°F, which is about average for this time of year. It’s not going to be worth getting wet for.

The following days don’t get much better. There’s a slight bump to 2ft on the 20th with glassy conditions Thursday morning, but the energy is weak (62) and it’s a short-period swell. That’s the one small window for a clean but tiny wave before the wind picks up and chops it all to bits again. The rest of that week is a write-off. We see a couple of pulses of longer-period energy, but they’re only 0.7ft, so it's just not enough to do anything with. The breeze stays fresh and cross-shore, keeping the surface lumpy.

We then hit a proper dead stretch from the 23rd through the 25th, where the swell drops to almost nothing. The guidance shows next to no energy directed our way; it’s a true flat spell. You can leave the board in the car.

It’s not until the 26th that things start to stir. A new, more powerful swell from the NW starts to build in the afternoon, reaching 4ft but with a short, wind-affected 6-second period. The energy is moderate (151), but the cross-onshore wind will make it a messy, lumpy mess. The 27th sees a bit more size, with 5ft on the afternoon push, but it’s still a short-period swell with a fresh cross-shore wind. This is not surf for the faint of heart; it’s a full-on battle.

After another flat day on the 28th, the real event finally shows up on the 30th of August. We’re looking at 5ft of NW windswell, and the energy jumps to a strong 406. The period is still only 9 seconds, but there’s some push behind it. The wind is still not ideal, with a fresh cross-shore breeze, but it’s rideable. This is the most interesting we’ve seen all week.

That swell carries into the 31st, dropping slightly to 4ft but staying punchy. Then, on the 1st of September, conditions finally clean up a little. The wind eases off to a gentle cross-onshore, and we have a solid 4ft of swell with moderate energy. It’s not perfect, but it’s the cleanest we’ve had all period.

Finally, on the morning of the 2nd of September, we get our one real standout. The wind lightens to a light cross-shore, the swell is still a workable 4ft, but the energy jumps to a very strong 414. It’s a NW groundswell with a 9-second period. This is the best combination of size, power, and (relatively) clean conditions in the entire 16-day forecast. It’s the one day you’d seriously consider calling in sick for.

After that, the wind swings onshore again. It’s a slim window, but for a stretch like this, that morning on the 2nd is pure gold. Keep your eye on it.

Oh, and as for that 5ft on the 27th with the fresh cross-shore – if you’re not into the paddle fight, you might want to check if there’s a kite in the shed. That setup looks way more fun for that.

That’s all from me. Stay patient, keep the wax on, and chase that morning on the 2nd.

Rusty.

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