Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty.

First up, we’ve got Strand (Pipe). This is your local sub-region here, just a beach and reef setup that’s fairly consistent. We’re starting on Thursday the 13th of August. Water’s sitting at about 57°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a good wetsuit. The standout window here kicks off Thursday morning. We’ve got a 5ft SW swell rolling in with a very long period of 18 seconds, and combined energy is pumping at 1418 (moderate wave energy). That’s a groundswell, and with that period, it’s going to have some real power—better for a point or reef setup, but at Strand (Pipe) it should still offer some solid, clean lines. Wind is light, cross-offshore from the NNE at 6 mph, so things are looking clean. This is definitely for experienced surfers though; that size and period will be a handful.

Thursday afternoon the swell drops a touch to 4.3ft SW, period still long at 16 seconds, but the wind goes cross-shore and the energy dips to 978. It’s marginal, with tide issues likely. Not the top pick.

Friday the 14th, we see a drop. Swell down to 3ft, wind picking up from the N at 12 mph, cross and choppy. Poor conditions. Saturday morning the 15th looks interesting—3ft SW swell, period 14 seconds, but the wind goes glassy, dead calm, with a combined energy of 271 (weak to moderate). It’ll be small but clean, with some decent shape for the longboard or a fun mid-length. That glassy wind is a major positive.

Sunday the 16th is a write-off—cross-onshore winds, messy. Monday the 17th is marginal, with light cross-shore winds and small swell around 4.3ft.

Now, the next real standout comes in on the morning of Saturday the 22nd of August. This is a week and a bit out, so it’s promising but less certain. We’ve got a 5ft SSW swell, period a very long 16 seconds, and combined energy is through the roof at 1543 (moderate to strong wave energy). Winds are light cross-off from the ESE at 6 mph, so it should be clean. Another one for experienced surfers—that size and period will pack a punch. The afternoon of the 22nd sees the swell bump up to 5.6ft, but wind picks up to 16 mph, which makes it a bit more marginal.

Sunday the 23rd still has decent 4.6ft SW swell with offshore ESE winds at 16 mph—clean but a bit windy. Monday the 24th drops back to small 2.6ft fun waves, with light offshore winds, good for a relaxed session.

From the 25th onward, it gets poor again—onshore winds, small chop, not worth paddling out for.

Overall, the best session on offer is Thursday morning the 13th, clean, punchy, and powerful. The second standout is Saturday the 22nd morning, which looks solid if the forecast holds. Everything else is either small, windy, or marginal. There’s a long gap of nothing worthwhile from the 25th right through to the end of the month.

Stay safe out there.

Read more