Tamarama Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mates, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what the next couple of weeks are shaping up to be for Tamarama Reef. I’ll be straight with you – it’s not going to be a classic stretch, but there are a couple of moments that could get the heart rate up if you’re patient and pick your windows.

Right off the bat, the water’s sitting at 61°, which is a bit colder than we’d usually expect for this time of year. So, you’ll want the thick rubber, no doubt about that.

The first week is pretty much a write-off for anything decent. We’ve got pulses of wind and swell, but it’s all pretty messy. Friday the 14th kicks off with a small 3ft south swell, but it’s coming with a cross-onshore breeze, making it choppy and poor. The energy is weak too. Saturday the 15th sees a bit more size, up to 4ft in the morning and 6ft by the afternoon, with the south swell building. But the wind swings around and picks up, making it a real battle. It’s all for nothing with that onshore chop. Sunday the 16th is no better, with the swell dropping back and the wind sitting right on it. Essentially, the whole first stretch from the 14th through the 18th is a mixture of cross-onshore junk and shifting winds, with nothing clean. You’re looking at 3ft to 5ft of messy, short-period slop. It’s a five-day gap where you’d be better off doing anything else.

We get a small reprieve on Wednesday the 19th. The swell drops to a tiny 2ft, but the wind goes glassy in the morning. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. The period has stretched to 10 seconds, which gives it a little more push, but it’s still small. That’s a morning for a longboard and zero expectations. The trend of small, weak surf continues through the 22nd, with the energy dropping right off. It’s all pretty limp.

Now, things start to get interesting toward the end of the second week. On Sunday the 23rd, we see a new south swell start to fill in, with 5ft in the morning building to 6ft by the afternoon. The period is a more solid 9 to 11 seconds, and the energy is ramping up. But the wind is still cross-onshore, making it poor. Monday the 24th is a small, clean morning with 3ft and glassy conditions, but it’s not a standout.

Here’s your one true standout, and it’s a big one, but you’ve got to be an expert. Tuesday morning, the 25th of August, is the big one. The forecast is for a serious 11ft south swell, with a long 11-second period. The energy is massive. The wind is light offshore, which will make the faces clean. But listen to me: this is way too big for this reef. It’s only for the most experienced chargers out there, and even then, it’s going to be critical. This is a day for the brave, not the faint of heart. The afternoon eases to a still-chunky 8ft, but the wind swings cross-shore and spoils it.

Wednesday the 26th is another strong day, with 8ft of south swell and a long period. The morning looks excellent for experienced surfers, with a clean, light cross-offshore wind. The energy is still very strong. This is your other window, but again, the size will be well overhead and demanding.

After that, the swell backs off. Thursday the 27th has 5ft with a moderate offshore wind, which should offer some clean, if not huge, waves. Then, Friday the 28th looks interesting for a bit – 5ft of south-east swell with a 10-second period and glassy conditions in the morning. That could be a fun, clean session if you time it right. But the afternoon turns poor again.

So, to sum it up: the first 10 days are a frustrating mix of small, onshore slop. The real action is on the 25th and 26th, with big, powerful south swells offering challenging, expert-only conditions. If that’s not your game, the mornings of the 24th and 28th are your best bets for something smaller and cleaner. Stay sharp and don’t get caught out by that big one.

Rusty, out.

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