Seaside Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Howdy folks, Rusty here, checking in on the prospects for Seaside Reef over the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a slow start and a big finish, so let’s talk it through.

First up, Seaside Reef is an inconsistent spot, and we're in a quiet phase. The water temp is a warm 77°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – definitely a nice surprise.

Your first real look at the ocean comes Saturday the 30th of August. There’s a 4ft SSW groundswell with a long 16-second period, so there's some real pull. But the light 6 mph WSW wind is onshore, so the surface is going to be a bit messy. The combined swell energy sits at a moderate 728, meaning there's some push, but it’s a marginal call. One for the die-hards only.

Things stay pretty quiet and frustrating from Sunday the 30th right through until Sunday the 7th of September. We’ve got a few mornings with waist-high S or SSW swell, but the winds are nearly always onshore or cross-onshore, keeping things lumpy and uninviting. The Tuesday morning of the 2nd offers a 4ft SSW swell with a 12-second period, but again, the wind is onshore. It’s a long stretch of mostly poor to marginal surf. Best to save your energy.

Now, the second week is a whole different story. Monday the 8th of September picks up steam, with 6ft of S swell by the afternoon and a light offshore breeze from the WNW at 6 mph. That’s a promising setup, with combined energy surging to a strong 1171. The true standout, though, is Tuesday the 9th of September. The morning serves up a chunky 8ft SSW swell with a 13-second period and light offshore wind, pushing the energy over 2000. Then the afternoon goes ballistic – a massive 13ft SSW swell with a 12-second period, combined energy screaming to 4167. That’s a serious, powerful groundswell, and with light offshore winds from the W at 9 mph, it could be absolutely perfect. But for sure, anything over 8ft is expert territory. This is a heavy-duty session for the brave hearted. This is your big stand-out.

After that peak, it fades quickly. From Wednesday the 10th of September onward, it drops back into small and poor conditions. There’s a little bump on Sunday the 14th with a 4ft SSW swell and a manageable 13-second period, but the wind coming through with rain showers keeps it marginal.

So to wrap it up: the first ten days are mostly a dud. But that Tuesday the 9th of September is a day to circle on your calendar – just make sure you’ve got the skills and the nerve.

Rusty.

Read more