Saltwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks at Saltwater. We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but the back half of the forecast is looking well worth the wait.

The first few days are very quiet. Monday and Tuesday the 3rd and 4th of August are a write-off – tiny, messy, and not worth paddling out for. The swell is weak and the wind is just not cooperating. Wednesday the 5th is still pretty ordinary, with a small bump of 3 ft from the SSW in the afternoon, but it’s not gonna get the heart racing. The combined swell energy is only 130 (low), so it’s a day to tinker with the quiver on the sand.

We’ve got a gap of poor conditions right through until the 5th, with nothing worth a mention. Thursday the 6th has a glimmer of hope with a clean 2 ft swell from the S and glassy conditions in the morning, but it’s still a very small wave. Energy is a weak 80. Good for a longboard or a foamie, but not much else.

Now, the real story starts to build from Tuesday the 11th. The morning is still small and clean, but the afternoon brings a proper groundswell from the S at 2 ft, with a long period of 13 seconds and a combined energy of 256 (moderate). The wind is cross-off, and the water is a comfortable 66° – about normal for the time of year. This is the first time it feels like the ocean has some life in it.

Wednesday the 12th is a solid day. Clean offshore winds in the morning with a 3 ft S swell at 11 seconds, and the energy jumps to 229 (moderate). The afternoon is even better, with the same size and a little more push. Thursday the 13th sees the swell start to ramp up. The morning brings 5 ft from the SW with a moderate 15 mph offshore wind, making for clean, lined-up waves. The energy is 328 (moderate). But the afternoon is the real deal – 7 ft from the SSW, with a period of 9 seconds and a huge combined energy of 1172 (strong). This is too big for beginners. It’s a powerful, punchy swell that’s going to be a handful, but for the experienced crew, it’s game on.

The standout window is Friday the 14th through to Monday the 17th. Friday morning is pumping with 5 ft from the S and a gentle offshore breeze, with energy at 602 (strong). But the afternoon of the 14th is the absolute peak – 8 ft from the S with a 12-second period, and the combined energy goes through the roof at 2733 (very strong). This is a big, powerful groundswell that will be breaking straight at beach breaks, but at a point break like Saltwater, it’s going to produce some long, clean, reeling lines. The wind is light and cross-off, so the face will be clean. This is the best on offer.

Saturday the 15th holds strong with 7 ft from the S in the morning and 6 ft in the afternoon, both with clean winds and plenty of energy. Sunday the 16th is still solid at 5 ft, but the conditions start to ease off. The 17th has a nice 5 ft SSE swell with good energy, and the wind is offshore, so it’s still a quality day.

The pick of the entire period is the afternoon of Friday the 14th of August. That 8 ft S groundswell with a long 12-second period, light cross-off wind, and a massive energy reading of 2733 is going to produce some of the best waves of the month. Just be aware that at this size, it’s for experienced surfers only. The 13th and 15th are also excellent, but the 14th is the one to circle.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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