Steps Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down the surf at Steps.

First off, the water temp is about normal for this time of year, nothing to get excited about.

The next few days are a bit of a mixed bag, but we have a window of clean-ish surf around Thursday and Friday. Thursday morning (27th August) sees swell from the WSW at 7ft, with a period of 9 seconds, and a moderate breeze blowing cross-offshore. The wave energy is moderate (867), and it’s clean. Thursday afternoon is a touch smaller at 6ft from the west, still clean with cross-off wind. Friday morning (28th) looks best with a 4ft swell from the west, a fresh offshore wind out of the SE, and clean conditions (598 energy). Friday afternoon picks up a bit to 6ft, but the wind is still offshore and the period drops to 6 seconds, so it’s a bit more junky. Saturday (29th) is also clean and offshore, with 4ft and 3ft from the SSW, but the energy drops off (407 then 201). These are the pick of the bunch, but nothing huge.

After that, we hit a dry spell. From Sunday (30th) all the way through to Tuesday (1st September), the swell drops – we’re talking 2ft to 3ft, and the wind gets messy, turning cross-off then cross-shore. The wave energy is weak (mostly under 120). It’s pretty much a flat, blown-out dud for paddle surfing.

Then things get interesting, but not for the right reasons. The first week of September sees a massive pulse of swell. On Wednesday 2nd September, we’re looking at 18ft to 20ft swell from the NW and WNW, with a period of 10 to 11 seconds. The energy is huge (over 6000 and 8000). But the wind is onshore, strong, and the conditions are messy. Thursday 3rd September holds 13ft to 16ft from the WNW with a 12-second period, still cross-onshore and choppy. The afternoon of the 3rd actually gets a perfect score for the swell, but the wind and tide are the issue. This is a serious, expert-only size. At over 8ft, it’s too big for beginners, and this is far beyond that. For a beach setup, this is more kite-surfing territory than a fun paddle session.

The rest of the second week fades out quickly. Friday 4th and Saturday 5th have 4ft to 8ft swell from the NW with a long 12-second period, but the wind stays cross-shore or cross-off, and the energy drops from 1866 down to 483. Still, those long-period NW swells are better for a point or reef, not a beach break like Steps, which can make them break straight and be a bit of a handful. By Sunday 6th September, it’s back to tiny, weak swell and strong winds, and that continues right through the end of the forecast.

So, overall, the standout is Friday morning 28th August for the cleanest, most manageable waves. The big pulse on the 2nd and 3rd of September is a monster but only for the experienced and those willing to battle the wind. The rest of the time is a waiting game.

Rusty, signing off.

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