Roads End Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Roads End.

Roads End is a beach and reef set-up that’s fairly consistent, but to be honest, the next couple of weeks look pretty grim. The water temperature is sitting at 58°, which is about 1° cooler than average for this time of year – nothing too wild, just a touch on the chilly side.

The pattern for the first week and a half is pretty bleak. From Sunday 2nd August right through to Sunday 9th August, we’ve got a blocked-out run of marginal to poor conditions. The wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore, from the NNW, and it’s not letting up. The swell is hanging around 4 ft to 6 ft from the NW, but the period is short, mostly 6 to 9 seconds, so it’s weak and messy. The combined energy is moderate, sitting between 237 and 540 (moderate), but it’s not doing us any favours with that wind. It’s all cross-chop and bumpy. There’s a bit of a gap here with no real standouts – just day after day of poor surf.

The first faint glimmer of hope comes on Wednesday 12th August morning. The wind swings to the WNW at a light 3 mph, turning onshore, and the swell drops to 5 ft from the NW with an 8-second period. The combined energy jumps to 554 (moderate). It’s still marginal, but that light wind is a big improvement. The same goes for Thursday 13th August morning – the wind is onshore from the W at 3 mph, and the swell drops to 2 ft, but the period jumps to 15 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, which means better shape and more energy, but it’s small. The combined energy is 637 (moderate). This is the best of a bad bunch, but it’s still only a marginal shout.

From Friday 14th August through to Sunday 16th August, the swell drops further to 2 ft to 5 ft, and the period goes from 15 to 17 seconds. The wind is back to cross and cross-onshore from the NNW, so it’s choppy again. The best chance here is Sunday 16th August morning, with a 5 ft swell from the NW at 8 seconds, cross-shore wind from the NNW at 9 mph, and combined energy of 610 (moderate). It’s marginal, but it’s the most consistent-looking window.

The standout option, if you can call it that, is Wednesday 12th August morning. The swell is 5 ft from the NW, the period is 8 seconds, and the wind is light onshore from the WNW at 3 mph. The combined energy is 554 (moderate). It’s not big, but that light wind will keep it clean. The long-period swell on Thursday 13th August morning is also worth a look – 2 ft from the WNW at 15 seconds, with onshore wind from the W at 3 mph. The combined energy is 637 (moderate). It’s small, but the shape will be good for a point or reef break. Roads End is a beach and reef, so that long-period swell might break a bit straight, but it’s the best we’ve got.

Overall, it’s a tough run. The first week is a write-off. The second week has a couple of marginal windows, but nothing to get excited about. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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