Scarecrows Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks.

We’re looking at Scarecrows, a reef break that’s for the advanced crew only. The water is sittin’ at a warm 85°, which is a touch above the norm for this time of year – not crazy, but you’ll notice it. The overall pattern is a long, drawn-out run of mediocre surf with a couple of promising windows. The combined wave energy kicks off around 1018 (moderate) and builds to some serious numbers later on, but the conditions are gonna be a real mixed bag.

First up, the opening days. Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th are a bit of a write-off. The swell is around 3ft to 4ft out of the SSW, but the winds are a cross or cross-off from the SE, so it’s not total junk. The energy is moderate (1018 to 1046 on Monday), but the wave comment is calling it marginal surf. Nothing to get excited about.

Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th see the swell bump up to 5ft to 5ft, still SSW. The wind is a clean cross-off in the mornings, and the energy is picking up – we’re seeing 1455 to 1658 (moderate to strong). There’s a risk of thunderstorms, but the mornings are offering clean surf. It’s still not the best, but it’s a step up.

The real standout in the first week is Saturday the 12th through Sunday the 13th. The swell is hitting 6ft to 7ft from the SW, with a long period of 17 to 19 seconds. That’s proper groundswell fellas. The combined energy surges to 2054 on Saturday morning and 3015 on Saturday afternoon – that’s strong. The Saturday morning is clean with a cross-off wind. Sunday morning is also clean with a cross-off, but the swell is 7ft. That’s getting up there, so it’s only for the experienced. For the rest of you, this is a good time to watch from the rocks.

The middle of the week, Monday the 14th through Wednesday the 16th, is a bit of a lull. The swell drops back to 5ft to 6ft, and the winds turn more cross-shore with a chop. The energy drops to around 994 to 1686. It’s not great, but it’s not flat.

Now, hold onto your boards. The second week has a couple of crackers. Thursday the 17th is a standout morning. The wind is a clean offshore from the NE at 15 mph, and the swell is 6ft from the SSW with a 15-second period. The combined energy is 1889 (strong), and the wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That’s the one. That morning is the pick of the first half of the fortnight.

Another one to circle is Saturday the 19th. The morning is clean with a cross-off from the SE, and the swell jumps to 7ft from the SSW. The energy is 2260 (strong). Sunday the 20th morning is also clean, with a 7ft SSW swell and 1697 energy. The wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” These are the days you want to be in the water.

The final run from Monday the 21st to Tuesday the 22nd is a bit of a fade-out. The swell drops to 4ft, and the period is all over the place – 13 seconds on Monday, then a long 22-second groundswell on Monday afternoon but with a tiny 2ft height. The energy is moderate. Tuesday the 22nd morning has a 4ft swell with a 20-second period, but the wind is a light cross-onshore. It’s not the main event.

So, to wrap it up: The best on offer is the morning of Thursday the 17th with that offshore wind and solid swell, and the mornings of Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th for the bigger, clean SSW groundswell. The rest of the time is a bit of a grind, but those few sessions are worth the wait.

Rusty out.

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