Tallebudgera Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line at Tallebudgera.

This is a tricky one for the next couple of weeks, to be honest. We’ve got consistent swell running through the whole period, but the wind is going to make life difficult for most of it. The first real standout doesn’t pop up until Saturday the 22nd of August, so there’s a long stretch of ordinary to poor conditions before we get a good window.

We kick off with a small clean window early Tuesday morning the 11th of August. The swell is a tiny 2 ft from the east with a period of 9 seconds, and combined wave energy is only 83 – that’s weak. Water temp is about 69°, which is pretty normal for this time of year. The wind is light offshore from the west at 9 mph, so it’ll be clean and glassy, but it’s really just ankle-to-knee high dribble. Not worth getting too excited about. Crowds are likely here, but honestly, even the regulars might give this one a miss.

By Tuesday afternoon, it goes completely glassy with no wind at all, but still only 2 ft. The energy drops to 59. Surfable, but only just.

Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th stay small and clean-ish in the mornings with light wind, but we’re still looking at 2-2 ft. Energy picks up a little to 110-124, but it’s all pretty average.

Then from Thursday afternoon onward, things get messy. The wind swings onshore or cross-shore, the swell bumps up through Friday and into the weekend, but with choppy, cross-chop conditions. By Friday the 14th, the swell hits 5 ft and energy climbs to 263, but the wind is a moderate cross-shore at 12-16 mph. It’s not clean and it’s not fun. This pattern locks in for days.

We get a real pulse of swell from the 17th of August into the 18th and 19th. Monday the 17th sees 6 ft from the SE with 7-second period and energy at 337, but it’s cross-shore winds and rain showers. Tuesday the 18th brings a solid 10 ft from the SE, period 8 seconds, and energy rockets up to 1052 – that’s strong to very strong wave energy. But the wind is a fresh cross-onshore at 19 mph and it’s lumpy. This is getting into expert-only territory at over 8 ft, and with the wind, it’s just a messy, powerful churn. For most of us, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th stay big, 7-8 ft with energy peaking at 1279, but still cross-onshore winds and choppy conditions. Not the kind of day you call in sick for.

Now, the highlight of the whole outlook lands on Saturday morning the 22nd of August. Finally, the wind swings to a light offshore from the NNW at just 3 mph – glassy conditions. The swell settles to a clean 5 ft from the east, period 10 seconds, with combined energy of 536 – that’s moderate. This is the best on offer. The 5 ft is manageable for most, and with clean glassy conditions, the breakwater should be lining up nicely. Remember, this is an advanced break and it’s fairly consistent, so crowds are likely. If you can get it, this is the one to aim for.

After that, Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th see the swell drop back to 5 ft and 4 ft, with cross-shore winds and only marginal or poor conditions. Tuesday the 25th is glassy again with a 3 ft east swell, but it’s ordinary. By Wednesday the 26th, we’re back to small, messy surf.

So, to wrap it up – the whole period is a long wait for a short window. The standout is definitely Saturday the 22nd of August morning. That’s the one to pencil in. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or too big and messy. Take the clean glassy morning when you can get it.

Rusty.

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