Tamarama Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Tamarama Reef.

Right now, and for the first couple of days, it’s flat to tiny. We’re talking 0.7 ft to 1 ft of weak southerly swell with barely any energy (26 or less). The water temp is sitting at 64°, which is about average for this time of year. Monday and Tuesday are write-offs for a wave – you’d be better off leaving the board at home.

Then Wednesday the 15th kicks in with a pulse. The swell jumps to 6.6 ft from the south with a short 10-second period and a solid 1268 of energy, but the wind is cross and cross-on, and the conditions are described as marginal at best. By Thursday morning the wind is howling cross-on at 19 mph from the SSW with 7.2 ft of messy 8-second swell – that’s strong energy (1058) but blown out. This stretch from Wednesday through Friday is all onshore and lumpy, with waves up to 6.9 ft but poor quality. Honestly, for a reef break, that combo of short-period, wind-affected swell and cross-on breeze makes it look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Beginners should also steer clear – anything over 4.9 ft is too much, and it’s nearly 8.2 ft on Thursday morning, which is expert-only territory.

We get a bit of a break over the weekend of the 18th and 19th. The swell drops to around 3.6 ft to 4.3 ft from the east, with 8 to 9-second periods and moderate energy (200-339). The wind is light but cross-on or onshore, so the conditions are marginal. Not really worth getting excited about, though there might be the odd ride if you’re desperate.

Monday the 20th morning is actually the standout window in this whole outlook. The swell is 3.9 ft from the east-northeast, 9-second period, and 309 of energy, but the big win is the wind: light offshore from the NNW. That’s clean. Tamarama Reef needs good direction and it’s getting a sniff of the optimum SE direction. The crowd is listed as ‘sometimes’ so you might have a few out, but with the early morning offshore and that east-northeast groundswell, it should offer some fun, well-shaped waves. Being a reef, the longer period (9 seconds is decent) will help it line up. This is your best chance – get in early.

After Monday afternoon the wind shifts and it all gets messy again. Through the rest of the week and into the second week, we’re looking at small, inconsistent swell from the east-northeast, mostly 1.6 ft to 3.6 ft, with weak energy (58 to 273) and wind that’s either cross or onshore. There are glimmers on Wednesday the 22nd morning with a light westerly cross-off breeze and 2.6 ft of ENE swell, and Thursday the 23rd morning with a light NW offshore and 3 ft of the same. Honest, it’s tiny and ordinary – more of a longboard or foiling session. The last week of the month fades into flatness, with energy dipping below 100.

So, the honest call: the best surf on offer is Monday morning the 20th. Small but clean, and that’s as good as it gets in this run. After that, it's slim pickings. A few of the breaks are inconsistent here normally, but it tends not to stay poor for long – forecasts can change.

Stay patient, stay salty.

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