Tamarama Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright mate, grab your board and let’s have a look at what’s heading our way for Tamarama Reef over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a mixed bag, and patience is going to be the name of the game.

Right now, the water’s sitting at about 63°, which is pretty average for this time of year, so no surprises there, just your typical early spring chill.

We kick off on Sunday the 13th with a small 3 ft south swell, but a strong 19 mph NE cross-breeze is going to leave it lumpy and messy. Not worth paddling out for. Monday the 14th is a little better – cleaner conditions and a 2 ft southerly groundswell with an 11-second period, but it’s pretty weak, with the energy sitting at 143. It’s surfable, but nothing to get excited about.

Tuesday the 15th drops right off – tiny 2 ft northeast windswell with a short 7-second period and onshore winds. That’s a kite-surfing day, not a paddle day.

Now, Wednesday the 16th is where it gets big and ugly. We’ve got a 10 ft southerly swell in the morning, ramping up to 12 ft in the afternoon, with a solid energy reading of 2702. That’s strong stuff, but the wind is howling from the south at 28 mph, making it a messy, blown-out mess. This is expert-only territory if you’ve got the nerve, but honestly, it’s not going to be pretty.

Thursday the 17th stays big, with 10 ft dropping to 8 ft through the day, but still cross-onshore and lumpy. Not worth the hassle.

Then we get a standout window. Friday the 18th morning is your best bet in the whole outlook. The swell has dropped to a clean 5 ft from the SSE, and the wind is a light 6 mph offshore from the NW. The combined energy is 389, which is moderate, but with clean conditions and that offshore wind, Tamarama Reef should offer some nice, lined-up waves. This is the one to aim for. Afternoon goes a bit cross-shore, so make the most of the morning.

Saturday the 19th has a tiny 1 ft SSE groundswell with a very long 17-second period. That’s a lot of energy for a small wave, but it’s inconsistent and marginal. A light SW cross breeze will keep it clean enough, but you’ll be scratching for waves.

From Sunday the 20th through to Thursday the 24th, it’s mostly flat or tiny – 1.0 ft to 3 ft – with average winds and not enough push. There’s a brief uptick on Monday the 21st with an 8 ft south swell, but it’s onshore and messy again.

The next real standout is Tuesday the 22nd morning. A 5 ft southerly groundswell (10-second period) with a light 9 mph cross-offshore from the north. Energy is moderate at 389, and the forecast calls for clean conditions. It’s not huge, but it will be rideable and fun.

After that, it’s a slow decline into the end of the month, with small windswell and onshore winds. The final highlight is on Sunday the 27th morning – a 5 ft NE windswell (8-second period, so short period) but with glassy conditions thanks to a light 3 mph southerly breeze. Energy is solid at 448, and glassy means silky smooth. For a short-period swell, that’s about as good as it gets for Tamarama Reef.

So, to sum it up: if you want the best waves, get out on Friday the 18th morning. Tuesday the 22nd morning is your backup, and Sunday the 27th morning is a promising, long-range pick – but keep your fingers crossed on the wind holding.

Stay sharp, and don't force it when it’s ugly.
– Rusty

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