Roads End Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first few days are looking pretty ordinary, with small weak swell and a lot of cross-onshore wind messing things up. The water temperature is a frigid 51°, which is a massive 8° colder than normal for this time of year – that’s seriously unusual, so you’ll want a thick wetsuit and booties.

The first real glimmer of hope comes early on Sunday, 23 August. Roads End (a beach and reef break) will see a clean 4ft swell from the WNW with a period of 8 seconds, and here’s the kicker – glassy conditions. That’s a major positive. The combined energy is moderate at 241, and with that offshore wind, the surf will be clean and rideable for an intermediate. It’s not a massive swell, but it’s the best we’ve seen so far. Crowds are possible here, so get there early.

We then hit a real dry spell. From Monday, 24 August, right through to the end of the month, there’s almost nothing worth paddling out for. Small, weak swells, poor directions, and persistent cross or cross-onshore winds make for a frustrating stretch. The energy values are mostly in the 200s, which is weak for this spot. You’re looking at a gap of nearly a week and a half with no real recommendations.

The outlook starts to pick up again in the first week of September. On Wednesday morning, 2 September, the swell bumps up to 4ft from the W with a 9-second period, and it’s glassy again. The combined energy is a solid 370, so there’s a bit more push. This is a standout for the second week – clean, fun, and manageable. Thursday morning, 3 September, also looks good with 3ft from the WNW and glassy conditions.

Now, for the real talk: the big pulse arrives on Sunday, 6 September. We’re looking at a 10ft swell from the WNW with a 12-second period – that’s a long-period groundswell. The combined energy is a massive 2498, which is strong. But here’s the caveat – that size is only for experts. Beginners should stay well clear. Also, the wind is cross-onshore, which will chop things up a bit. At a beach and reef break like Roads End, a long period swell of this size can be a handful, and the cross-onshore wind won’t help. This setup might actually be more interesting for the kite surfers than paddle surfers. It’s a big, powerful, and messy option.

So, to wrap it up: the best windows are Sunday morning, 23 August for a clean, smaller session, and Wednesday morning, 2 September for a similar clean but slightly punchier wave. The big swell on 6 September is for experts only, and even then, conditions are marginal.

Rusty.

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