Scarecrows Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way.

Alright mate, the next couple of weeks at Scarecrows are looking like a proper grind for the most part. This is an advanced reef break, so we’re talking about waves for those who know what they’re doing. The water is sitting at a warm 85°, which is just about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We kick things off on Tuesday, the 11th of August, but honestly, it’s a bit of a rough start. There’s a decent 8ft south swell rolling in with a very long 17-second period, so that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is moderate at 4190, but the problem is the wind. That 12 mph SSE cross-breeze is putting a chop on the face, making it feel messy. The models are calling it marginal, and I’d have to agree. Not the kind of day you want to paddle out for. Wednesday, the 12th, is more of the same—still plenty of size at 7ft, but that cross-wind sticks around and the energy drops a touch to 2192. Still not clean enough to get excited about.

Now Thursday the 13th is where things start to look a little more interesting. The swell is still over 6ft from the south, but we get a shift to a cross-offshore wind with a light breeze. It's described as clean. The energy is moderate at 2074, and while there’s a risk of thunderstorms, the waves should have a bit more shape. This is a solid option for the more experienced surfer.

The best of the first week looks like Friday morning, the 14th of August. We’ve got a 8ft south swell with a 16-second period, and the wind is going light and cross-offshore from the ESE at just 6 mph. The models are talking about excellent conditions for experienced surfers, and I can see why. The energy is still solid at 2692. This is the morning to really focus on. Saturday the 15th also has potential early, with a similar setup, a 6ft south swell, light cross-off wind, and clean conditions. The energy is lower at 1686, but the quality should be there.

Then we get to Sunday the 16th of August. It’s a smaller day, 5ft south swell, but the wind goes glassy in the morning. That is a major positive. Glassy conditions on a reef break with a 15-second swell? That’s a rare treat. The energy is moderate at 1116, but the quality will make up for it. This is another strong recommendation for the experienced crew.

After that, Monday the 17th sees a drop in size, down to around 3ft to 4ft from the SSW. The wind stays clean and cross-offshore, so it’s a good day for a longboard but not much power.

Now, we jump to the second week. Tuesday the 18th sees a new SSW swell pushing back up to 7ft, with a 16-second period, but the wind turns cross-shore again. The energy is up to 2646. Wednesday the 19th looks like the standout of the second week, with a solid 8ft SSW swell and a very long 18-second period. That’s a lot of water moving. The combined energy is strong at 3668. There is a bit of cross-wind, so it won’t be perfect, but for size and power, this is the one to circle on your calendar for the 19th of August. It’s a week and a half out, so keep an eye on it.

The rest of that week into the 26th of August continues with moderate sized SSW swells, mostly in the 6ft to 7ft range, with a mix of cross-offshore and cross-winds. Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st mornings are both showing clean conditions with cross-offshore wind, so those are solid options. The final standout is Wednesday morning, the 26th of August. The swell is back down to 5ft from the SW, but the wind goes glassy again. Perfect conditions for an advanced reef break. That’s a nice way to end the outlook.

Overall, Scarecrows is a challenging spot that needs the right wind to really shine. The biggest swells come with messy wind, so for the best quality, target the mornings with light cross-offshore or glassy conditions. The top picks are Friday the 14th and Sunday the 16th in the first week, and Wednesday the 19th for raw size and power in the second. Be patient, pick your windows, and it’ll pay off.

Rusty

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