Tea Break Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. We’ve got a 16-day window on the cards, and I’ll be honest with you, it’s a bit of a tough one to call. The only spot on the radar is Tea Break, a consistent reef setup that’s exposed to the swell. It’s an intermediate-level wave, so it’s not for the grommets just learning to pop up.

The outlook kicks off on Friday, 7 August, but it’s not exactly firing. We’re looking at a cross-shore wind from the east at 12 mph, bumping up to 16 mph in the afternoon. The swell is coming from the ENE at 4 ft with a short period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is weak at 190, and the conditions are described as “poor.” It’s going to be a lumpy, cross-chop mess. Not worth paddling out for.

Saturday, 8 August, doesn’t offer much relief. The swell hangs around 4 ft to 5 ft, but the period drops to 6 seconds. That’s windswell territory, and with the same cross-shore wind, it’s still choppy and weak. The energy is moderate at 154 to 175, but the quality is still poor.

Sunday, 9 August, through Monday, 10 August, it’s more of the same story. The swell stays small, between 3 ft and 5 ft, with periods of 6 to 7 seconds. The wind is a constant cross-shore, and the energy is moderate but still not enough to clean things up. The afternoon winds pick up to 19 mph, making it lumpy and frustrating.

Tuesday, 11 August, to Thursday, 13 August, the pattern continues. Swell heights bob around 3 ft to 6 ft, with periods of 6 to 7 seconds. The cross-shore wind never lets up. The energy is moderate, peaking at 246 on Thursday afternoon, but the waves are still poor. You’d be surfing for the sake of being in the water, not for the quality.

Now, here’s where it gets a little interesting. From Friday, 14 August, through the weekend of 15 and 16 August, the swell starts to build. We’re seeing 6 ft to 7 ft from the east, with the period stretching to 8 seconds. The combined energy jumps up to strong territory, hitting 547 on Saturday morning. This is the biggest swell of the window. However, the wind is still cross-shore, and the conditions are “poor.” The chop is real, and with a 7 ft swell, it’s getting into the size range where it’s only for the experienced crew. For a reef break, that’s a heavy paddle out, and the cross-shore wind is going to make it ugly.

Monday, 17 August, through Wednesday, 19 August, the swell backs off slightly to 5 ft to 6 ft, with periods of 7 to 8 seconds. The energy is moderate to strong, but the wind is still cross-shore, and the quality remains poor. It’s a grind.

Thursday, 20 August, to Saturday, 22 August, the final stretch of the outlook, looks similar. Swell hangs around 5 ft to 6 ft, periods of 7 seconds, with the same cross-shore wind. The energy is moderate to strong, but there’s no standout quality.

The Bottom Line:
I can’t pick a true standout here. There isn’t a single day where the wind goes offshore or glassy. The best of a bad bunch is the weekend of 15 and 16 August, when the swell is biggest and the energy is strongest. But with that cross-shore wind and chop, it’s going to be a battle. For a reef break, this setup is more likely to be a frustrating close-out than a classic ride. If you’re a kite surfer, this might look fun, but for paddle surfing, it’s a pass.

That’s the word from me. Keep your eyes on the horizon, but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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