Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

The overall pattern is a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a solid pulse of energy coming in this week, but the wind is going to be a real factor. We’ll start with a little bit of swell, but it’s not until Sunday that things really clean up for a standout session. After that, it tapers off into smaller, less consistent surf, with a few more promising days showing up in the second week.

Alright, let’s break it down. The first few days are a bit of a write-off for quality surfing. Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd have some swell, but the wind is messy. Thursday afternoon sees a spike in size with a 12ft swell from the SSE, but the wind is a fresh cross-off at 22 mph, and the period is a short 10 seconds. The energy is strong at 2125, but it’s a choppy, windy mess. Not one for the paddle board.

We get a bit of a clean-up on Friday the 4th, with a 8ft SSE swell and a cross-off breeze, but the wind is still strong at 22-28 mph. The energy is moderate to strong (1155-730), but the short period (8-9 seconds) and heavy wind make it a tough paddle. The morning of Saturday the 5th has a 6ft SE swell with a fresh offshore wind, but the period is a very short 7 seconds, leaving it weak and bumpy.

Now, here’s the real standout. Sunday the 6th of September. This is the one to circle. The morning brings a 5ft SSW swell with a very long period of 18 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, and it’s packing a punch with a combined energy of 1486. The wind is glassy, dead calm. This is going to be clean, powerful, and lined up. The afternoon holds up with a 4ft, 16-second swell, still glassy. This is a top-tier session for experienced surfers. The long period will make it a bit straight at this beach-and-reef setup, but the quality of the wave will be unreal.

After that Sunday magic, the window closes hard. From Monday the 7th through to Wednesday the 9th, the swell drops right off and the wind turns onshore or cross-shore. It’s a no-go zone with small, weak waves and poor conditions.

The surf picks up a little again on Thursday the 10th, with a 4ft SW swell and glassy conditions in the morning. Not big, but clean. The next few days are a toss-up, with small swells of around 4ft to 4ft and cross-shore winds. The energy is moderate (529-566). It’s rideable but nothing to call home about.

Then we get another promising window. Saturday the 12th sees a 6ft SSW swell with a 14-second period and a clean cross-off breeze. The energy is high at 1590-1656. This is another good session, especially for the intermediate crew. Sunday the 13th afternoon also looks good with a 7ft SSE swell, but the period drops to a short 7 seconds, so the sets will be quick and punchy. The wind is light, keeping it clean.

The final days of the outlook, from the 14th to the 17th, are mostly small, with 3ft to 5ft swells from the SSW and SW. The wind stays mainly cross-off, but the energy is low to moderate (393-1147). It’s a slow, clean end to the period.

The water temperature is about average for this time of year. Nothing unusual to report.

So, to sum it up: Sunday the 6th of September is the absolute standout. Glassy, long-period groundswell, and plenty of energy. Saturday the 12th is your best backup. The rest of the window is a mix of small, clean days and blown-out messes.

Stay loose, and keep your eyes on that Sunday forecast. This is Rusty, signing off.

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