Saint Annes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on offer for St Annes over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it's a rough stretch ahead. The pattern is pretty grim from the start right through to the end of the month. We're looking at a solid 16-day run with no real standouts at all. The first recommendation doesn't come until the 16th of August, and even then, it's only a marginal call. There's a big gap of nothing worthwhile before that.

The only break on the cards is Saint Annes, a reef setup that's fairly consistent but scores a 2 out of 5 overall. It's an advanced wave, so this isn't beginner territory. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual there.

For the first week, from the 14th right through to the 20th, it's mostly poor. Winds are cross or cross-on from the west, keeping things choppy and messy. Swell is small, mostly under 3ft from the SSW, with a very long period around 16 to 19 seconds. That long period energy (431 to 700 combined energy) is better suited to a reef or point break, but the wind is just ruining it. On the 18th afternoon, we see a jump in size to 7ft, but it's a short-period windswell from the WNW at just 7 seconds – that's a messy, bumpy wave.

The 21st of August through the 24th sees a bit more size, with waves pushing 5ft to 7ft from the WNW, but the period is still short (7-8 seconds) and the wind is never clean. The energy is moderate (373 to 960), but it's all windswell and cross-shore wind. This is the kind of setup that looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. It's too big for beginners and the quality is poor, so only experts might find something in the chaos.

The last week, from the 25th of August onwards, the swell drops right off. We're back to small, weak energy (down to 26 combined energy) with a mix of cross-on and cross winds. The 25th morning has a marginal chance with a 2ft, 16-second SSW swell, but it's cross-on. After that, it's just a dribble of poor conditions. The 29th of August shows a flicker of hope with a 3ft, 16-second SSW groundswell and 474 combined energy, but the wind is still cross-on and choppy.

So, the bottom line: there are no good surf options in this 16-day window. The whole period is a write-off with poor wave quality and messy wind. For the area, a blank run like this is more normal than not, but forecasts can change. Keep an eye on it, but don't hold your breath.

Rusty.

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