Shelley Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s going on at Shelley Beach. It’s a real mixed bag, but there’s a solid window of quality surf to get excited about, especially if you can wait it out. The early part of the outlook is pretty grim, but a real standout appears later in the run.

The first few days look rough. From Monday, the 10th of August, through to the weekend, we’re dealing with messy, poor conditions. Monday morning has a 6ft ENE swell at 9 seconds, but it’s blown out by a 22 mph offshore wind. That’s clean, but at that speed it’s just too hard to get into anything. The energy is moderate (477). The afternoon gets even stronger at 28 mph – basically a kite session. By Tuesday the 11th, the swell drops to 2ft, and it’s not worth paddling out.

Tuesday afternoon, the 11th of August is where things finally turn. The wind drops to glassy, dead calm, and we get a 3ft S swell with a 13-second period. That’s some proper groundswell energy with moderate energy (282). It’s super clean, but it’s small. If you’ve got a log, you’ll be smiling.

Wednesday through the weekend stays small and messy. Onshore winds, rain showers, and weak, short-period swell. The 2ft to 4ft range is not doing anything for us. Energy is low to moderate, but the wind is all wrong. Shelley Beach is exposed to the SE, and we’re getting cross and onshore junk from the SE and SSE. It’s a write-off until the following week.

Now, the real standout is Friday, the 21st of August. Friday morning is your best bet. We’ve got a 6ft ENE swell at 8 seconds, with 0 mph wind – glassy conditions. The combined energy is strong (680). That’s a punchy, clean wave with no wind to mess it up. The period is a little short, but with that glassy surface, it’ll be fun and punchy. The afternoon gets a bit cross-onshore, so make the morning session.

Saturday, the 22nd of August is also worth a mention. Saturday morning is glassy again with a 5ft E swell at 9 seconds. Energy is moderate (297). It’s clean, and the swell is a touch longer, so the shape should be better than Friday. Not quite as big, but still a solid option.

Sunday, the 23rd of August has the biggest swell of the run – 7ft from the E at 10 seconds. The morning has a clean offshore breeze (9 mph) and the energy is very strong (1232). This is a proper, powerful groundswell. However, at 7ft, it’s getting into the "experts only" territory. The afternoon turns lumpy with a 19 mph cross-shore, so the morning is the only window.

The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so no need to dig out the 5/4 just yet.

To wrap it up: the first week is a dud, but the second week – specifically Friday and Saturday mornings – are the clear winners. If you can only pick one, Friday the 21st of August morning is the standout: glassy, 6ft, and solid energy. It’s the best on offer.

Rusty.

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