Tam O'Shanter Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be honest, the next couple of weeks are going to test your patience. We’ve got a long stretch of small, wind-affected surf ahead, with only a couple of fleeting windows that look half-decent. It’s not going to be a period for scoring big barrels, but there are a few mornings where the conditions might just line up for a clean,如果能 paddle out on the longboard.

First up, the highlight. Friday morning, August 7th at Tam O'Shanter. We’re looking at a tiny but clean 1 ft of NW swell, with a very long 18-second period. The wind is dead glassy from the SSW. The water temp is sitting at 55°, which is about average for this time of year. The combined energy is weak at 67, so it's not going to be powerful, but the lack of wind will make it super clean. You’ll be fighting for scraps, but the conditions will be pretty.

The rest of the first week is pretty much a write-off. Saturday and Sunday, August 8th and 9th, see the swell drop and the wind swing onshore, making things choppy and messy. By Monday, August 10th, there's a slight bump in energy to a moderate 155, but the 6-7 second period is short and the winds are up. It's clean, but the swell is junky.

The mid-period, from the 11th to the 14th, is dominated by strong winds and building, messy swell. Wednesday, August 12th, brings the biggest swell of the period—8 ft from the NNW with an energy reading of 750—but with 35 km/h cross-shore winds and a short 8-second period, it’s going to be a complete mess. That’s more of a kite-surfing day than anything else. It’s not for paddling, that’s for sure.

After that, things back off quickly. The swell drops and we go through a few days of clean but tiny conditions, with the wind mostly offshore or light. Friday afternoon, August 14th has a similar, weak 3 ft of WNW swell with a moderate offshore wind from the SSW, making things clean. And then Saturday morning, August 15th, has another glassy, 1 ft NW pulse with an 18-second period. These are your only other real chances, and they’re still pretty average. The energy is weak and the waves will be small.

From Sunday, August 16th, right through to Friday, August 21st, it’s basically flat. We’re talking a 6-day dead spell where the swell energy is mostly under 50, and the few waves that show up are tiny, short-period, and wind-blown. Don’t even bother checking the cam. It’s going to be a long, flat week.

Now, for the future. Looking ahead to Saturday, August 22nd, there’s a glimmer of hope. The morning is still marginal, with a 4 ft NW swell, but the afternoon looks better. The wind is forecast to go glassy, and the swell bumps up to 5 ft from the WNW with a moderate energy reading of 218. This gives us our most promising window in the whole 16-day forecast. It's still a week and a half away, so don't book your flights yet, but it’s the one to keep an eye on. It’s for the more experienced crew, as 5 ft could be pushing it for beginners.

So, that’s it. A real lean couple of weeks. Patience is key, but the promise of a better day on the 22nd is something to hold onto.

Rusty.

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