Roads End Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a good look at what's coming our way for Roads End. It's a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest, so don't go getting your hopes up too high just yet.

We're looking at a fairly long stretch here, starting from the 1st of August and running through to the 16th. The first few days, from Saturday the 1st right through to Monday the 3rd, are a write-off. The swell is small and weak, and the wind is just messing it all up. It's a cross-onshore breeze making everything choppy and messy. You're looking at waves around 2ft to 6ft, but the energy is weak to moderate (304-327), and the quality is just plain poor. Honestly, not worth paddling out for.

Things start to look a little more interesting from Tuesday the 4th. The swell picks up a bit, but it's still a short-period, wind-affected swell. The wind stays cross or cross-onshore, so the surf is going to be a bit of a bumpy, chop-ridden affair. The wave heights hover around 6ft to 7ft, with the combined energy getting into the moderate range (400-628). The commentary calls it "marginal," and I'd agree. It's not great, but it's a step up from the weekend. There's a slight chance of a salvageable wave if you're really keen.

Thursday the 6th and Friday the 7th see the swell peak a little, with the energy hitting 834 and 771 respectively. We're still looking at that short-period, wind-affected swell. The wind is lighter on Thursday morning, which is a positive, but it's still cross-onshore, so don't expect perfection. The water temp is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at 56°F.

After that, from the 8th through to the 12th, it's much the same story. The swell drops back a bit, the wind remains a pesky cross or cross-onshore, and the quality is consistently described as "marginal" or "poor." It's a grind of a week, with wave heights between 4ft and 6ft.

Now, the 13th of August throws a bit of a curveball. We get a small, long-period groundswell rolling in from the WNW with a period of 15 seconds. The waves are tiny, only 2ft, but the energy climbs to 413. The problem is, the wind is still a moderate cross-shore, so it's not going to be clean. You'd be hunting for a very specific, small, clean peak.

The final few days, from the 14th to the 16th, are a return to the same old story. Small, weak, and messy. The wind is cross-on, the period drops back to 8 seconds, and the energy is moderate. It's a pretty quiet end to the outlook.

So, what's the standout? Honestly, there isn't a single standout session in this 16-day window. The best we've got are the marginal days from the 4th to the 7th, where the swell is at its biggest and the energy is flowing. If you're desperate for a paddle, Thursday morning the 6th might be your best bet, with the lightest wind and the biggest swell of the period at 7ft from the NW. But it's a cross-onshore breeze, so don't expect it to be firing. It's a case of low expectations and a big dose of local knowledge.

The crowds could be a factor at Roads End, as it's a spot that does get busy sometimes. With the conditions being what they are, if you do see a clean set, you won't be the only one.

Hang in there, gang. The forecast can change, and it tends not to stay this poor for too long. Keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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