Seaford Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, Rusty here. I’ve stared at the charts for the next couple of weeks, and I’ve got to be straight with you—Seaford Reef is looking pretty flat and lifeless for the foreseeable future. The finder didn’t turn up any good surf windows, so we’re in for a long, quiet run.

The first recommendation doesn’t kick in until the 18th of August, which is a Tuesday afternoon. Even then, it’s a tiny 1 ft swell from the north with a shocker period of 4 seconds. The wind is a light cross-shore from the NNW at 6 mph, but the wave energy is weak (6), and the file is calling it "poor surf conditions." It’s a no-go.

We roll into Wednesday the 19th, and it’s more of the same. Morning brings a lumpy 4 ft from the NW with a fresh cross-onshore wind at 19 mph, and the afternoon is onshore and rainy. The swell energy nudges up to 54 and 61 respectively, but the quality is absolutely grim. This pattern holds through the 20th and 21st—tiny, short-period leftovers with cross-onshore chop. The morning of the 22nd, Saturday, offers a glassy 1.0 ft from the WSW, but it’s still too small to paddle for.

The rest of the first week and into the second week is a total dud. We see a few clean moments—like the 23rd morning with a cross-off breeze and the 25th morning with an offshore—but the swell never tops 2 ft and the periods are mostly 4 to 8 seconds. The combined energy stays in the single digits or low 20s. It’s a desert.

Then, on the 27th of August (Thursday), we get a spike. The morning shows a 7 ft swell from the west with a period of 7 seconds. The combined energy hits 396, which is moderate-strong. But the wind is a fresh cross-onshore from the SW at 19 mph, making it lumpy and messy. The afternoon is similar at 7 ft. This is too big for beginners, and with the wind, it’s only interesting for experts, and even then, it’s a battle. The set-up is a reef, but with that wind direction, it’s blown out. Honestly, it looks more like a kite session than a surf.

The 28th and 29th offer cleaner conditions with offshore winds, but the swell drops back to under 3 ft. The 29th Saturday afternoon has a gentle 1.0 ft from the WSW with an offshore breeze, but it’s just a dribble.

By the 31st of August and into September, it’s virtually flat. The 1st of September has a 0.3 ft swell from the west with a 10-second period, but the energy is only 2. It’s a glassy pond.

There is no standout session here. The best on offer is the 27th August, but only if you’re an expert paddling into messy, lumpy 7 ft+ waves. Even then, the wind is rubbish. For the rest of us, it’s a blank fortnight. The reef is inconsistent and rarely breaks, so this kind of run is normal for the area. Keep an eye on the charts—things can change, but for now, leave the boards at home.

Rusty.

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