Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty. Let’s have a look at the next 16 days at Strand (Pipe). It’s a bit of a slow start, but there’s some real gems if you play your cards right.

We kick off Saturday morning, 5 September, with a 6ft SE swell running a short 7-second period, and the wave energy is hanging around 439. The wind is a fresh offshore from the ESE at 19 mph, so it’s clean, but the swell’s too short and weak to get the heart pumping. Saturday afternoon is much the same, 6.2ft SE, 7 seconds, 549 energy, still fresh offshore – just a warm-up.

Now Sunday, 6 September, things get interesting. The swell settles to 5.6ft from the SSW, but the period jumps to 18 seconds – that’s proper groundswell, with strong energy at 2080. The wind is a gentle offshore from the E at 9 mph, keeping it clean. The sets will be spaced out with that long period, and at a beach and reef setup, it might break a bit straight, but for experienced surfers, this is a beauty. Sunday afternoon keeps it going with 4.6ft SSW, 16 seconds, 1166 energy, and the same gentle offshore breeze.

Monday, 7 September, is a step down. Swell drops to 4.3ft SSW, 14 seconds, but the wind goes cross-on from the NW at 3 mph, and it’s marginal. Tuesday, 8 September, is a write-off – 2.6ft S swell, 11 seconds, 242 energy, with cross-on wind. Wednesday, 9 September, is flat at 2ft SW, with cross-shore winds – not worth the effort.

Thursday, 10 September, brings a little pulse: 4.9ft SW, 15 seconds, 1017 energy, with light cross-shore wind from the SSW at 6 mph. It’s rideable. Friday, 11 September, is messy – 6.2ft S swell, only 8 seconds, 762 energy, with moderate cross-shore wind. The afternoon jumps to 8.2ft S, 8 seconds, 1020 energy, but with a fresh cross-offshore from the SE at 19 mph, it’s clean but big and short – a handful.

Now for the standout: Saturday, 12 September. This is the day. The swell is 11.5ft from the SE early, with an 8-second period, and the energy is strong at 2128. The wind is glassy, from the NNW at 3 mph – that’s as good as it gets. The afternoon is even bigger, 9.8ft SE, 10 seconds, 2683 energy, still glassy. Over 8ft, this is only for experts, but if you’re one of them, this is the best of the whole run. The beach and reef setup will be pushing hard.

Sunday, 13 September, is a letdown – 4.9ft SSW, 14 seconds, with onshore and cross-on winds from the W at 9 mph, making it choppy. Monday and Tuesday, 14 and 15 September, are mostly poor. Tuesday afternoon, 15 September, gets a 6.9ft SW swell, 14 seconds, 1649 energy, but the wind is a strong cross-on from the NW at 25 mph – that’s messy and lumpy, more for kites than paddles.

Wednesday, 16 September, improves with 5.2ft SW, 13 seconds, and cross-offshore winds from the SSE at 16 mph, keeping it clean. Thursday, 17 September, is a nice run: 6.2ft SW, 12 seconds, 1100 energy, with fresh offshore ESE wind at 19 mph. Clean and solid. The afternoon is similar, 5.9ft SW, 11 seconds, 1027 energy, same offshore wind.

Friday, 18 September, is smaller but clean – 3.6ft S, 9 seconds, 583 energy, with light cross-offshore winds. Easy, fun waves.

Then we get another big one on Saturday, 19 September, but it’s a beast. The swell is 13.1ft from the SE, with an 11-second period, and the energy is massive at 5982. The wind is light cross-on from the WNW at 6 mph, so it’s not glassy, and at that size, it’s a monster. Only for the hardcore. The afternoon drops to 7.9ft SSE, 11 seconds, 1779 energy, but the wind goes cross-on from the SSW, making it choppy.

Sunday, 20 September, closes with a 5.6ft S swell, 9 seconds, 587 energy, and light cross-on wind – just a so-so end.

The water temperature is

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