Saint Leu Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here.

We’ve got a mixed bag coming at us for the next couple of weeks. The first week is going to be a bit of a tease, with some rideable but unremarkable swell, but things are going to properly open up next weekend. The real standout is coming in a week and a half’s time, so if you’ve got a flex day, keep it free.

To kick things off, let’s talk about Saint Leu. The water temp is sitting at 77°, which is a touch warmer than usual for the time of year, so you can get away with a springy if you’re keen.

Week One (August 9–14):
To be honest, the first part of the week is a bit of a grind. From Sunday morning through to Thursday, we’ve got consistent but weak energy, with the combined swell energy hovering around the 700 to 1112 (moderate). The swell is coming from the SW, but the period is short, mostly in the 12-16 second range, and the winds are mostly light and cross-on. It’s not going to be pretty, but it’s surfable. Sunday the 9th is marginal, nothing to write home about. Monday the 11th afternoon you get a bit of a glass-off, but it’s still small. The standout for this period is Wednesday the 12th afternoon—still small at 4ft from the SW, but it’s glassy and clean. It’s small, so don't expect much push, but you’ll get a few nice ones on the point.

The Transition (August 15–17):
Friday the 14th brings a slight bump in size, 6ft, but the wind is junk. Real cross-on stuff. Not worth the crowds.

Then, on Saturday the 15th, the whole game changes. The swell jumps to 7ft from the S with a 20-second period, and the energy numbers spike to 4678 (strong). The wind is offshore, 10-20 km/h, and it’s only getting bigger. By the afternoon, we’re looking at a solid 10ft of south swell with an 18-second period and the energy meter is screaming at 7189 (very strong). This is the one. The wind stays offshore, and it’s going to be pumping. It’s big, over 8ft, so this is for experienced surfers only. Saint Leu will be handling it, but this size is not for the faint-hearted.

Sunday the 16th is still good, with 10ft dropping to 8ft, still offshore but a touch lighter. Another quality day, but the peak of the swell is Saturday afternoon.

Monday the 17th will be fun, still clean, but the size drops off a cliff back to 4ft with a long 16-second period. It’ll be glassy and the wind will be offshore, so it’s a good day for the log.

Week Two (August 18–23):
The middle of next week is pretty much a write-off. Small surf, cross-shore winds, and weak energy. Expect a few days of flatness and close-outs. Don’t bother.

The Monster (August 24):
Now, here’s the long-range promise. On Monday the 24th, the swell model is showing a serious pulse. We’re talking 12ft to 13ft of SSW groundswell coming in with a 16-second period. The combined energy is up at 6952 to 6972 (very strong). The wind is a fresh offshore breeze all day, keeping it clean. This is a big one. Over 8ft means experts only, and honestly, the point might be closing out on the biggest sets, but it will be a spectacle. This is the standout of the whole run, but it’s ten days out, so treat it with a bit of caution. It’s promising, but forecasts change.

Rusty.

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