Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag here at Strand (Pipe). The opening days are pretty quiet, so don’t expect much action right away. We’ve got a slow start, but things pick up mid-period, with a couple of windows that are worth circling on the calendar.

We kick things off on Sunday the 2nd with some small, weak surf. The water’s sitting at 59°, which is about normal for this time of year. Morning is pretty marginal, but the afternoon cleans up nicely – glassy, with a little 3ft SW swell. It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’s a start. Monday looks similar, with a glassy morning and a clean afternoon, swell around 3ft. Honestly, these early days are about getting wet, not chasing epic waves.

Then we hit a bit of a lull. Tuesday the 4th is pretty ordinary, and Wednesday the 5th gets blown out. A NNW wind kicks up to 16 mph, turning things messy and choppy. Not worth paddling out for. The combined swell energy is up there, but the quality is poor. Kite surfers might have more fun than us on a day like that.

Thursday the 6th gets more interesting. Swell pushes up to 6ft in the morning, but the wind is cross-shore. The afternoon, though, is a standout – clean, cross-off breeze, 6ft of SW swell, and conditions that should have experienced surfers grinning. Friday the 7th keeps the momentum. Morning is the pick: 6ft of SSW groundswell with an offshore breeze. Clean and punchy. It’s on the bigger side, so best for those with some experience.

Saturday the 8th is a step down. The swell is still there – 7ft in the morning – but the wind goes cross-onshore and then gets strong in the afternoon. Sunday the 9th is a write-off with rain and strong onshore winds. The energy is still moderate, but the surf shape is going to be poor. Not your day.

After that, we drop right back down. Monday the 10th is small, messy, and windy. Keep the board in the car.

Now, here’s the big one. Tuesday the 11th. Boom. Swell jumps to 15ft in the morning – that’s some serious power – with a solid 12-second period. The wind is offshore, so the cleanup is on. This is expert-only territory, and it’s going to be big, heavy, and probably a bit raw. It drops to 12ft in the afternoon, still huge. Wednesday the 12th keeps things big, with 12ft sets and offshore winds, but it’s a lot of water moving around. This whole stretch is the standout for the period. It’s going to be a proper show.

By Thursday the 13th, it starts to ease. Stacks of 5ft in the morning with a clean cross-off breeze – that’s looking fun for the average surfer. The rest of the week, from the 14th to the 17th, settles back into the small-to-medium range. There’s a really clean morning on the 14th with a 3ft, long-period groundswell (17 seconds) and glassy wind – that’s a sneaky-good pick for a quiet session. But that long period and the beach/reef mix at Strand (Pipe) can make things a bit straight. After that, it’s mostly small, with increasing wind from the 16th onwards, so plan accordingly.

If you’ve got the skill for it, that Tuesday-to-Wednesday window is the prime time. Otherwise, keep an eye on Sunday the 2nd afternoon, Monday the 3rd, and Thursday the 6th afternoon for some clean, manageable waves.

Rusty.

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