Saltwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Saltwater has in store for us. It’s a bit of a slow burner, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

Right now, we’re in a bit of a flat spell. The first few days are looking pretty grim with weak, short-period windswell and poor conditions. We’ve got a stretch from Friday the 21st right through to Tuesday the 25th where the surf is just not worth paddling out for. The swell is tiny, the period is short, and the wind is all over the shop. You’re better off staying home and waxing your board.

Finally, things start to stir on Sunday morning the 23rd. We get a pulse of groundswell from the south, with a 2ft swell and a 12-second period. The combined energy is moderate (120), and with glassy conditions, it’ll be clean. But at that size, it’s really just a knee-slapper for the longboarders. The afternoon gets a bit more energy (235) but the rain showers and cross-onshore breeze mess it up.

Monday the 24th morning is still marginal. A south swell hanging in there at 3ft with a 10-second period, but a cross-onshore wind keeps it bumpy. The afternoon goes downhill fast with onshore winds at 12 mph.

Tuesday the 25th is a write-off. The morning is onshore, and the afternoon brings a jump in size to 5ft from the NE, but it’s short-period (6 seconds) junk with a strong onshore breeze. That’s a messy, blown-out mess.

The first real standout shows up on Wednesday morning, August 26th. We get a clean 4ft swell from the ENE with an 8-second period. The wind is a light cross-offshore breeze at 6 mph, keeping the surface clean. The combined energy is moderate (227), and the forecast says "expect good surf conditions." It’s not huge, but it’s the best we’ve seen all week. Saltwater is a point break, exposed to the swell, and with the optimum swell coming from the SE, this ENE swell isn't a perfect match, but it’s still offering up some fun, clean lines. This is your window for a decent session.

The rest of the week is mostly ordinary, with small, clean but unexciting surf. A few mornings offer glassy conditions on the 28th and 29th, but the swell is small.

Looking into the end of the month, we have another potential standout. Sunday afternoon, August 30th, brings a 4ft swell from the SSE with a 7-second period, but it’s glassy. The combined energy is moderate (252), and it’s flagged as good surf conditions. A bit short-period, but the glassy surface makes it worth a look.

The best of the whole run looks like Wednesday morning, September 2nd. We get a solid 4ft swell from the ENE with a 10-second period, and the combined energy jumps to a strong (471). The wind is offshore at 9 mph, meaning clean, groomed faces. This is a proper groundswell pulse. For a point break like Saltwater, that longer period will set up some nice, long walls. The water temp is currently sitting at 66°, which is pretty normal for this time of year. No anomalies to report.

So, to sum it up: The first week is mostly a washout. If you’re itching for a paddle, Wednesday morning, August 26th is your early pick. But if you can wait, hold out for Wednesday morning, September 2nd. That’s the session with the most power and cleanest conditions on the cards. Keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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