Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table at Strand (Pipe). Right now, it’s a bit slow to get going, but there’s some fun stuff coming if you’re patient.

The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. The early stretch is pretty quiet. Friday morning, August 28th, we get a little 3 ft south swell with an 11-second period and glassy conditions—northwest light airs. It’s clean, but with combined energy at 299, it’s on the weaker side; you’ll be scratching for something decent. Friday arvo fades to a 2 ft south-west swell, cross-shore, and really marginal.

Saturday morning the 29th looks alright though. A 2 ft south-west swell, period holding at 14 seconds, and a light cross-offshore from the southeast. The combined energy bumps to 370, and it’s glassy-clean. That’s a nice little session if you’ve got a log or a fish.

Sunday morning the 30th sees the swell bump to 5 ft from the south-southwest, 12-second period, and moderate cross-off wind again. Energy jumps to 795—moderate now—and it’s clean. That’s the pick of the first few days: a bit more push, still tidy, and not too crowded on a Sunday morning.

Monday the 31st drops back a notch with 4 ft south-west swell and light cross-onshore wind, making it a bit bumpy. Not worth rushing for.

Now, a standout appears on Wednesday, September 2nd. Morning session hits with a solid 12 ft south-southwest swell, 17-second period—that’s a very long period groundswell, packing a huge energy reading of 7819. Moderate cross-shore wind keeps some chop, but it’s a big-wave day. This is for experts only; 12 ft is serious. The afternoon drops to 10 ft with a better cross-off breeze and clean faces—still only for the crew with big balls and bigger boards. The long period means it’ll be lining up nicely at Strand, but expect the sets to be widely spaced, making the paddle easier between bombs. Crowds are possible here when it’s on.

After that, the swell drops fast. Thursday the 3rd is messy with strong wind and a short-period SE windswell, and Friday the 4th sees 18 ft of absolute howling SE swell with near-gale winds—34 mph. That’s a kite-surfing show, not a paddle session. Stay on the beach for that one.

Saturday the 5th cleans up a bit with 6 ft south swell and lighter winds, but it’s cross-shore and a little bumpy. A recovery day.

The following week from the 6th to the 12th is mostly small and marginal. Highlights are the morning of Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th: tiny 2 to 2 ft south-west swells but with clean, cross-off winds and a long 16-second period. Very weak energy—251 to 240—but glassy and rideable on a high-performance board. The real gem in the second week is Wednesday morning the 9th: 4 ft south-west swell, 12-second period, light offshore wind from the east-southeast, and combined energy of 653. Conditions are clean, and that’s labeled as very good surf. That’s your sleeper session if you can sneak away.

Overall, the clear standout is the big groundswell on Wednesday, September 2nd for experts, with Saturday, August 30th as the best clean, moderate session for the rest of us. The second week has a nice little window on Wednesday the 9th.

Rusty.

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