Shelley Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what we’ve got coming up. Let’s be straight with you – this forecast is a slow burn for Shelley Beach. We’re not seeing a lot of quality over the next two weeks, and there’s a *big* gap of nothing special on the cards.

The first few days are pretty bleak. Starting this Saturday morning, the 22nd, we’ve got a tiny 0.7ft swell from the ENE with a short period of 6 seconds and weak energy (7). It’s clean enough with a cross-offshore breeze, but it’s really just not doing anything. That poor surf theme carries right through the weekend into Monday, with only tiny improvements. Sunday morning the 23rd sees a little bump to 4ft from the south with a period of 10 seconds and moderate energy (356), but the wind is cross-shore and it’s only a marginal call. Monday the 24th morning is clean with a 3ft south swell at 10 seconds and moderate energy (182), but the conditions are very ordinary.

Then we hit a bit of a dry spell. Tuesday through to the end of the month is mostly poor surf, with small, messy swells and onshore winds. The one bright spot is Wednesday the 26th morning, when a 6ft NE swell with an 8-second period and strong energy (575) arrives with a clean offshore wind. That’s the best we’ll see for a while, and it’s worth a look for the quick, punchy banks. But the afternoon turns ugly with a risk of thunderstorms and a cross-onshore wind.

After that, it’s back to the doldrums. We have a long stretch of poor conditions from the 27th of August all the way through to the 1st of September. The morning of the 1st has a 5ft south swell at a short period of 5 seconds with moderate energy (190) and a clean cross-offshore, but it’s just ordinary. The afternoon of the 1st of September is a little better, with a 6ft SSE swell at 7 seconds and strong energy (394) and a clean offshore, but it’s still only good, not great.

Now, for the real standout that’s worth keeping an eye on: Friday the 4th of September. This is a big one, but it’s a warning, not a welcome mat. We’re looking at a massive 10ft swell from the SSE with a short period of 8 seconds and very strong energy (1364). The wind is offshore and clean, but the note from the models is clear: this swell is predicted to be too big for this break. Shelley Beach will be a washing machine, and you’d want to be an expert, and even then, it’s a maybe. This is one for the long-range notebook, but it’s a long way off and things could change.

The week after that looks like a return to the same old story: small, onshore, and poor. Sunday the 6th of September morning has a 4ft east swell at 8 seconds with moderate energy (254), but the wind is cross-onshore. It’s just not a great run of surf for Shelley Beach.

Honestly, if you’re after a paddle, the best bet is the Wednesday the 26th morning session. For the brave, maybe keep an eye on the 4th of September, but don’t hold your breath. The rest of it is a write-off.

Rusty.

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