Temples Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright mates, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming up for us.

We’ve got a solid run of surf on the cards, starting this Thursday morning and rolling right through the 16-day window with no real gaps. The standout period is definitely the first few days, with a strong, long-period SW groundswell and clean offshore winds locking in. The water temperature is 78°F, which is just a touch under the long-term average for this time of year – nothing to worry about, still lovely and warm.

Temples (reef and point) is the only break on the menu, and it’s the one to focus on. The forecast kicks off on Thursday the 20th with an 8ft SW swell arriving at 16 seconds. That’s a proper long-period groundswell, packing serious energy (combined energy of 3737 – that’s strong to very strong). The wind is ESE at 16 mph and solid offshore, so the face will be clean and lined up. This is excellent surf, but at this size, it’s strictly for advanced surfers. The swell direction is straight out of the SW, which is exactly the optimum for this spot. Thursday afternoon holds similar quality, with 8ft surf and the same offshore breeze.

Friday the 21st eases a little, but still delivers. The morning shows 5ft from the SSW with a very long 18-second period, and offshore winds again. The energy is still strong (2589). The afternoon picks up to 8ft with a 17-second period, and the wind remains offshore. This is still excellent, advanced-level surf.

Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd continue the trend with 7ft and 6ft SSW swells, periods around 15-16 seconds, and offshore winds holding through the mornings. The energy stays strong (over 2200). Sunday afternoon sees the wind shift to cross-off, so the quality dips a little – still clean, but not as perfect.

The following week from Monday the 24th through to the end of August sees the swell slowly drop, but it remains very surfable. Most mornings have offshore winds, and the swell hangs around 5ft to 6ft. The energy is still moderate to strong (over 1000). The longer period (16-19 seconds) means the waves will have shape and power, but at these sizes, it’s less intimidating. Keep an eye on the morning sessions – that’s when the wind is cleanest.

Into early September, the swell picks up again. On Tuesday the 1st, we’re looking at 7ft SW swell with a 18-second period, and light winds. That’s expert territory again. Wednesday the 2nd is a real highlight: the morning has glassy conditions with a 3 mph SW wind, and the swell is 6ft at 16 seconds – that’s a dreamy combo for the experienced surfer. The energy is strong (1729). Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th keep the quality high with offshore winds and solid 6ft to 6ft SSW swell.

The only real caveat with a spot like Temples is that it’s a reef and point break, so it can get a bit more intense with the longer period swells. The 15-20 second intervals mean the sets are well-spaced, which makes paddling out easier, but the waves will have plenty of punch. Crowds are possible here – it’s marked as “sometimes” busy, so get there early for a peak.

Overall, the best bet is the first few days – Thursday 20th and Friday 21st – with the biggest, cleanest, and most powerful SW groundswell. If you’re an advanced surfer, that’s your window. For the rest of the run, the mornings are your friend for the cleanest conditions.

This is Rusty, signing off.

Read more