Shelley Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what Shelley Beach is serving up. It’s a consistent spot, exposed to the south-east, so it’s going to catch most of the pulses rolling through. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing wild there.

The weekend starts off a bit average, honestly. Saturday morning you’ve got a weak 4ft SSE swell, period around 10 seconds, and the wind is cross-on from the south at 6 mph. The combined energy is only 334 – not much punch. The afternoon cleans up a touch, swell bumps to 5ft, but the wind goes onshore from the south-east. Still a bit messy.

Now, Sunday morning the 30th of August is where you want to be. The swell drops to 3ft from the south, period holding at 9 seconds, but the wind goes glassy – dead calm from the north-north-east at 3 mph. That’s a major positive; the surface will be like a mirror. Combined energy is 214, which is modest but workable. This is the best of the first week, hands down. The afternoon stays clean but wind shifts to a light onshore, so the morning is the call.

Monday morning the 31st is tiny – 2ft south swell with a long 16-second period. That’s a groundswell, but for a beach break it’s going to be too straight and weak to really stand up. Combined energy is 254, but don’t get your hopes up. The afternoon gets choppy with 12 mph winds.

Tuesday the 1st of September looks alright – 3ft south swell, 11-second period, and a clean cross-offshore wind from the north at 6 mph. Combined energy is 218. Clean waves, but nothing special.

From Wednesday the 2nd through to the 7th of September, the swell drops right off. You’re looking at tiny waves – 2ft to 3ft – with weak energy readings between 48 and 128. Winds are mostly clean or offshore, but there just isn’t enough swell to surf properly. That’s a solid six-day gap of poor to ordinary conditions.

Then things get a bit wild. On Tuesday the 8th of September, a big pulse hits. Morning shows 10ft from the south, 8-second period, and glassy wind. Combined energy is 1128 – strong. The afternoon jumps to 13ft south swell, 11-second period, 3311 energy, with a clean cross-offshore wind. But here’s the thing – that size is only for experts. Over 8ft is big wave territory. If you’re not charging, stay out of the water.

Wednesday the 9th of September still has solid 8ft to 10ft SSE swell, but the wind is messy, especially in the afternoon with a strong cross-onshore. Thursday the 10th is blown out with 22 mph winds.

Finally, Friday the 11th of September morning is the standout of the whole run. Clean 5ft SSE swell, 10-second period, light cross-offshore wind from the west at 6 mph. Combined energy is 512 – solid moderate energy. That’s a proper session. The afternoon gets a cross-onshore wind, so it’s a morning mission only.

Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th drop back down to ordinary, small surf.

So the two real highlights: glassy Sunday morning the 30th of August for a clean small-wave session, and Friday morning the 11th of September for a proper, punchy, clean swell.

Rusty.

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