Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here, your local surf reporter. Let’s get into it for the coming weeks. The ocean is about to give us a proper run, but it’s not for the faint of heart. The first real action kicks off on Thursday the 6th of August, but before that, Wednesday the 5th is a write-off with strong cross-onshore winds and lumpy, poor surf. So, sit tight for a day.

The standout window is going to be from Thursday morning through to Saturday afternoon. The star of the show is Strand (Pipe). It’s a beach and reef setup, exposed to the SW swell, and it’s about to get hammered in a good way. Thursday morning (6th August) we’re looking at a solid 7ft SW groundswell (13-second period) with clean, cross-offshore winds. The water temp is sitting at 59°, which is pretty much average for this time of year. The energy is moderate (1326), and it’s excellent for experienced surfers. This is your best bet for the whole period.

Friday morning (7th August) is another cracker. Clean, light offshore winds with a 7ft SSW swell, but the period jumps to a very long 15 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell. The energy is building (1911). This is a stand-out for sure, but keep in mind that long period likes to straighten out on beach breaks, so it might be a bit walled off at times. Still, it’s clean and powerful.

Saturday morning (8th August) is going to be a special one. Glassy conditions, not a breath of wind, with a 6ft SSW swell. The energy is still moderate (961), but the glassy surface will make it look like a mirror.

The swell peaks on Sunday (9th August) with waves hitting 10ft to 12ft. That’s big, expert-only territory. The wind is strong and cross-off, so it’ll be clean but heavy. The energy is off the charts (5143 on Sunday afternoon). This is for the experienced crew only.

After that, the swell drops off. Monday (10th August) is still 8ft to 10ft, but the wind is fresh and cross-off, making it less appealing. Tuesday (11th August) sees an offshore breeze and a cleaner 7ft swell, but it’s a step down in energy.

Then we hit a long flat spell. From Wednesday 12th August through to Monday 17th August, the surf is small and weak. Waves drop to around 4ft and then down to 2ft to 2ft. The energy is weak (as low as 133). The wind is often cross-on or onshore. It’s not great. There’s a gap of about six days of poor to ordinary conditions.

Things pick up again on Tuesday 18th August. That morning we see a 7ft SW swell with a 12-second period, glassy conditions, and strong energy (1337). That’s a surprise late bloomer. It’s for experienced surfers again. The next day, Wednesday 19th, is a bit smaller and wind is a factor, but it’s still surfable.

The last few days of the outlook (20th August) fizzle out into small, choppy, poor surf.

So, if you’re looking for the best waves in the whole 16 days, it’s Thursday 6th and Friday 7th of August. Clean, powerful, and consistent. The long period on Friday means it might be a bit tricky, but it’s still a great session. Don’t sleep on Saturday morning either, with that glassy, clean surface.

Rusty out.

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