Tamarama Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s comin’ down the line at Tamarama Reef. I’ll be straight with you – the next week and a half is a real mixed bag, and honestly, there’s no stand-out session where everything clicks for a paddle. Most of the time, the surf is either too junky, blown out, or way too big for anything other than a tow-in crew. So buckle up, it’s a long read.

We start off this Saturday, August 15, with a 5ft southerly swell that’s short-period at 8 seconds, and a south wind at 15 mph slappin’ it cross-on. It’s messy, choppy, and the wave energy is only moderate at 348. Not worth wettin’ a wetsuit for.

Sunday the 16th ain’t any better – 4.6ft swell dropin’ to 3.6ft, short-period SE swell, onshore wind both sessions. The combined energy is weak to moderate (278 and 267). The water’s a bit colder than normal for this time of year at 61.0°F with a 3.2°F anomaly.

Monday the 17th sees the swell slim down to 2.3ft with a 9-second southerly period, but it’s light rain and cross-on wind. The energy’s down to 163. Not your day.

Tuesday the 18th is flat-lining – 3ft ESE swell with a 6-second period in the morning, droppin’ to a pathetic 1.3ft in the arvo, but at least that one has a 13-second period, which is a nice groundswell but no size. Energy is moderate but low-to-mid 100s. Still poor.

Wednesday the 19th morning – now we see a little light. Clear skies, light westerly cross-off breeze at 6 mph, 3.3ft ESE 6-second swell. Conditions are clean, but the wave quality is still only “ordinary”. Combined energy 174 – moderate but weak. It’s surfable, but you won’t be racin’ to the car park.

Thursday the 20th morning – again, clean with light northerly cross-off, 3ft ESE 7-second swell. Energy 81 – weak. Still very ordinary. Thursday arvo, wind swings NE at 15 mph cross-shore, makes a mess.

Friday August 21 – finally, we get offshore! Northwesterly at 12 mph, clean lines. Both morning and arvo show 3ft ENE 7-second swell, energy in the 80s. It’s small, clean, and surfable – but only for the longboard or the patient.

Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 – morning on Saturday has fresh WNW cross-off wind at 18 mph, but the swell is a tiny 2ft, ENE 8 seconds, energy 40. Sunday morning shows a little more hope with a 3.6ft southerly swell and a 12-second period, clean with light WSW cross-off. Energy jumps to 355, which is moderate. That Sunday morning is your best bet in this first week – offshore-ish, groundswell, and decent shape for a reef. Could be a fun little window. Crowds are possible here, so keep an eye out.

Monday 24 to Tuesday 25 – back to junk. 2ft and smaller, strong winds, cross-shore or cross-on, choppy and lumpy. Energy in the 40s and 80s. Nothin’ doin’.

Now here’s the big news – and it’s not good for paddlers. Wednesday August 26 morning: the swell pumps up to 10ft southerly at 10 seconds, combined energy a massive 2962. That’s strong. But it’s too big for Tamarama Reef – the data says it’s predicted to be too big for this break. The arvo is 11.5ft, cross-on, choppy.

Thursday August 27 morning: it gets wild – 16.4ft S swell at 12 seconds, energy 11338. That’s very strong wave energy. Again, too big for this spot. Friday August 28 morning is the peak: 16.4ft SSE swell, 13-second period, glassy conditions – yes, glassy – but the swell is massive, combined energy 14926. That is an absolute monster. Only for expert chargers with a death wish and a jet ski. Too big for any normal paddle session here.

Saturday the 29th drops a bit to 11.5ft, still too big. Sunday the 30th is back down to 6.6ft with rain and onshore wind, energy 759 – moderate. Still not clean.

So here’s the bottom line: If you’re a beginner, stay away from August 26 to 29 – that’s way too big. If you’re an expert, even then the break is rated as too big, so it’s more a kitesurf or tow-in situation. The only real window for a decent, clean, paddle-surfable wave is Sunday August 23 morning – small but clean, moderate energy. And maybe Friday August 21 morning for a clean little longboard wave. Otherwise, the run is pretty blank for good surf. Tamarama Reef is inconsistent, so a long dry spell isn’t unusual.

Stay patient, mates.

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