Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Strand (Pipe) over the next couple of weeks. The water’s sitting at 59°F, which is about a degree and a half cooler than average for this time of year – a bit on the brisk side, so suit up.

Right now, it’s quiet. The first chance for a wave comes Friday afternoon, August 28th, but it’s only 3ft from the south with a 10-second period and a light cross-shore breeze – marginal at best, with weak energy (392). Not worth the effort. Saturday morning the 29th is cleaner: 2ft of SW swell with a nice 14-second period and a light cross-offshore breeze making it glassy. That’s a solid little session for a longboard. The energy is still moderate (373). Saturday afternoon gets sloppy with 4ft and a 20 km/h cross-shore – skip it.

Sunday the 30th picks up. Morning sees 5ft of SW swell, 12-second period, clean with a cross-offshore breeze and moderate energy (729). It’s rated marginal but could be fun for intermediates. The afternoon drops to 4ft, same direction, still clean. Monday the 31st is back to smaller stuff – around 4-4ft with cross-shore winds – nothing special.

Tuesday, September 1st brings a bump: 6ft in the morning, then 6ft in the afternoon, both from the SSW with a 13-second period, light cross-onshore breeze. Energy jumps to 1030 and 1198 – moderate to strong. Still marginal though.

Here’s the standout – Wednesday morning, September 2nd. 10ft of SSW swell, 15-second period – a proper long-period groundswell – with a clean cross-offshore breeze and energy at a massive 3522. This is big, powerful, for experienced surfers only. The wind keeps it clean, so if you’ve got the skills, that’s your session. The afternoon drops to 7ft but the wind picks up.

After that, it gets wild. Thursday the 3rd has 7ft from the SE with a terrible 6-second period and a fresh breeze – junky. Friday the 4th is big again – 10ft from the SE, 8-second period, strong offshore wind at 45 km/h. Clean but hard to paddle into. Energy is 1765 – strong. More of a kite session than a paddle one. The afternoon is 8ft with a fresh offshore.

The second week is quieter. Saturday the 5th morning has small 3ft SSW swell, clean, light winds. The afternoon builds to 5ft from the SE, 9 seconds, clean and fun. Sunday the 6th dawns glassy with 2ft from the SW, 18-second period – super long period, real power for its size. A longboard dream.

Things go flat and messy for a few days. Monday the 7th through Thursday the 10th is mostly under 2ft with strong or onshore winds – not worth it. Friday the 11th brings some life: 3ft in the morning from the SW, 16-second period, light cross-onshore, and 4ft in the afternoon from the SW, 15-second period. Both marginal.

Then Saturday the 12th. Morning is glassy with 4ft SW swell, 14-second period, energy moderate (535). The afternoon is the gem: 5ft of SW swell, 14-second period, absolutely glassy, energy at 1066 – moderate to strong. That’s a brilliant session for intermediates and above. Your two standouts: Wednesday September 2nd morning for the big-wave crew, and Saturday September 12th afternoon for a clean, medium-sized day. Crowds are possible at Strand (Pipe) – it’s sometimes busy, so get in early.

Rusty

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