Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ at Strand (Pipe) over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, the water is sitting at 58°, which is a bit colder than you’d expect for this time of year, so maybe grab an extra mm of rubber.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first real call is Thursday the 20th. It’s not going to be epic, but there’s clean 7ft surf from the SSW with a moderate 13-second period. The combined energy is pumping at 1211, so there’s plenty of push. The wind is a cross-off from the SSE at 12 mph, keeping things tidy, but it’s really just a warm-up.

Friday the 21st is where it starts. Morning and afternoon both seeing clean 5ft SSW groundswell (11-second period) with light winds—afternoon goes glassy with a 3 mph Southerly. That’s the kind of session you paddle out for and don’t want to leave.

The weekend gets a bit average. Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are messy with cross-shore winds on smaller, weaker swell. Not worth rushing for.

Now, here’s the standout. Tuesday the 25th. Morning brings offshore winds from the ESE at 9 mph and a solid 5ft SW groundswell with a 14-second period. That long period means proper lines, real shape. Combined energy of 924 (moderate-strong). This is the call of the week for intermediate surfers—clean, offshore, and well set up. Keep in mind the long period might make it a bit fat for the beach break, but it’ll still be good.

Things get a bit quiet again mid-week, but Thursday the 27th afternoon serves up a treat: glassy conditions with 3ft of S swell. Perfect for a longboard after work.

Looking further ahead, there’s a promising window on Saturday the 29th. Another morning of clean, offshore ESE winds at 12 mph with a 4ft SW groundswell (13 seconds). That’s a solid option, though not quite as punchy as the 25th.

Then we hit a big lull. From Sunday the 30th right through to Tuesday the 1st of September, the waves are on the small side or blown out. That’s a solid four-day gap of nothing worth chasing.

But hold onto your board. Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd of September see a massive pulse of swell. Wednesday afternoon has an 12ft SW groundswell with a 15-second period and combined energy screaming at 5020. That is powerful, serious, expert-only territory. The wind is cross-onshore though, making it messy and dangerous. For the experienced crew who know the peak, there’ll be bombs. For everyone else, this is too big and raw.

By Friday the 4th of September afternoon, it settles. Glassy conditions return with a clean 5ft SW swell at 11 seconds. That’s a beautiful way to finish the forecast window—clean, smooth, and surfable.

So, if I’m picking one: Tuesday the 25th of August is the top session for quality and clean conditions. Wednesday the 2nd of September is the big show for experts only, but promise is there.

Stay stoked.

- Rusty

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