Scarborough Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the Scarborough Beach stretch.

Alright, we're kicking off this forecast period with a bit of a mixed bag. The first note on Sunday, August 9th, is not a good look. We've got a solid 10-foot swell from the WSW, but the wind is a mess—cross-on from the NW at 6 mph in the morning, turning to a gusty cross-on from the WNW at 9 mph in the arvo. The combined wave energy is massive (4965 in the morning, 3675 in the arvo), but with that wind, it's going to be a choppy, lumpy scene. Definitely not the one to get excited about. Monday, August 10th, is a write-off too. Onshore winds are howling at 25 mph, and it's just not worth looking at.

Now, hold onto your board, because Tuesday, August 11th, is where we get our first real standout. The morning is going to be glassy—absolutely zero wind from the ESE. That 10-foot groundswell from the WSW is packing a 16-second period, and with a combined energy of 4807, this is big, powerful stuff. For the experienced surfer, this is going to be a proper session. The only thing to keep in mind is that this is a beach break, and a long-period swell like this can sometimes make things a bit too straight and fast, so pick your peak wisely. The afternoon sees a light onshore breeze, but it'll still be solid.

Wednesday, August 12th, keeps the good vibes rolling. Another morning of glassy conditions, with a 7-foot swell from the WSW at 14 seconds. The energy is still well into the moderate range (1670), and it's clean. The swell is coming down a bit, so it's a bit more manageable. Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th are both looking tidy. Thursday morning is glassy with a 6-foot, 16-second swell (1588 energy), and on Friday we get a sweet cross-offshore breeze from the ENE at 9 mph, with a 7-foot, 16-second swell (1904 energy). That's classic Scarborough right there.

The weekend of the 15th and 16th is still decent, but the swell is dropping. Saturday the 15th has clean, cross-offshore winds and a 5-foot to 6-foot swell. The energy is dropping to around 955, which is on the lower side of moderate, but it's clean. The real issue is that crowds are a possibility here, and with clean conditions on a weekend, it could get busy.

Then we get a big gap. From Sunday, August 17th, all the way through to Tuesday, August 18th, the wind is onshore and strong, with gusts up to 22 mph, making a mess of everything. The swell is still there, but it's just not surfable. We get a break on Wednesday, August 19th. The morning is clean with a cross-offshore breeze from the NNE at 6 mph, and a solid 7-foot, 15-second groundswell from the WSW (2792 energy). That's a good one for the experienced crew.

But hold on. Thursday, August 20th, is a monster. We're looking at a 15-foot swell from the W, but the wind is howling cross-on at 22 mph. The combined energy is a massive 7638, but honestly, with that wind, it's going to be a washing machine. The afternoon has an 12-foot swell, but the wind is still strong. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The back half of the period, from Friday, August 21st, through to Monday, August 24th, is a bit of a letdown. The swell is dropping, and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-on, with moderate to fresh breezes. The combined energy is dropping into the 1000s and then under 1000, which is weak. There's a brief window on Saturday, August 22nd, with a 5-foot, 15-second swell, but it's cross-on and choppy. Not much to get excited about there.

The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

So, the best on offer is definitely Tuesday, August 11th, for the glassy, powerful groundswell, and Friday, August 14th, for the cleaner, more manageable conditions with the sweet offshore wind.

Rusty.

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