Strand (Pipe) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it's Rusty here. Let's get into it for Strand.

Straight up, we've got a bit of a mixed bag for the next 16 days. The good news? There's swell on the cards. The frustrating bit? The wind and conditions often don't play ball, making it a game of picking the right window. It's not a total write-off, but you'll need to be patient.

The first decent chance you get is on Thursday, 10 September. Stand (Pipe) will see a SW swell building to 5ft with a solid 15-second period, giving it real grunt. The combined energy is moderate at 131 on Wednesday morning, but by Thursday it jumps to strong levels. The wind is cross-shore, which keeps it rideable but not perfect. This is probably best left for the crew who know the break well, as the size starts to push it beyond beginner territory.

Now, Friday, 11 September is where things get interesting. After a morning of clean, waist-high 3ft SW swell, the afternoon flips the script. A quick spike of 6ft SSE windswell rolls in with a short, punchy 7-second period. The wind swings offshore, and the wave comment says "expect good surf conditions." For a beach break, that short period might make it a bit sectiony, but an offshore wind at Strand is a rare treat, so get on it.

Saturday, 13 September is your standout. Sunday morning kicks off with offshore winds and a clean 4ft SSW groundswell (14-second period). But the real magic is Sunday afternoon: glassy conditions with 4ft SSW swell. The energy is strong (669), the wind is glass, and the wave comment is "expect very good surf conditions." If you can only paddle out once this week, make it this session.

We then hit a rough patch from Monday, 15 September through Tuesday, 16 September. Strong, messy cross-onshore winds and lumpy conditions mean the surf quality is poor. There's size—up to 5ft on Tuesday afternoon—but it's just blown out. Better to give it a miss. The water temp is a notable 56°, which is 4° colder than usual for this time of year, so a good 4/3 wetsuit is non-negotiable.

Things clean up again mid-week. Wednesday, 17 September and Thursday, 18 September offer clean, cross-offshore conditions with some decent SW swell in the 5ft to 6ft range. The energy is strong (1642 on Wednesday morning). This is solid, punchy surf for the confident intermediate.

Looking into the second week, Friday, 19 September is a real tease. Glassy conditions with a clean, long-period 3ft SW swell (12 seconds) in the morning. That’s a session for the logs or a fish. The following days have a few windows of clean, offshore wind and small swell in the 3ft range, particularly Monday, 22 September and Tuesday, 23 September, which would be fun on a longboard.

We wrap up with Thursday, 24 September offering a final spike of size—8ft of short-period S swell. With a light cross-onshore, it'll be bumpy and not the best quality, more suited to the experts looking for a challenge.

Best on offer: No question, it's Sunday, 13 September afternoon. Glassy, clean, and a beautiful 4ft SSW groundswell. See you in the water.

- Rusty

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