Terra Mar Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here. Look, I'm just gonna level with you: we are in the middle of a shocking dry spell for waves around here. The next week and a half is mostly a write-off, with only scraps on offer. It gets interesting toward the very end of the forecast, but you’ll need to be patient.

The good news is that this joint, Terra Mar (a point break), is usually fairly consistent, so this blank run is a bit of a bummer, not the norm. The water temps are sitting a touch warmer than average for this time of year, which is nice, but that’s about the only thing to get stoked about right now.

Alright, starting from Thursday, August 20. Don’t get your hopes up. It’s a cross-on mess with a weak 3 ft SSW swell, period a short 14 seconds. Combined swell energy is weak at 289. The wind is a cross-onshore S at 9 mph, creating choppy, poor surf. Total dud.

The next few days—Friday, August 21 through Tuesday, August 25—are just as grim. Swell hangs around the 2 ft to 3 ft range, mostly short period (13 to 18 seconds) and crossed up. Wave energy stays weak to moderate, peaking at just 506 on Tuesday afternoon. Wind flickers between cross-on and onshore, never giving us anything clean. Just small, bumpy leftovers.

Now, Wednesday, August 26 sees a bit of a pulse. Swell bumps up to 4 ft to 5 ft from the S/SSW, period sitting at 12 to 13 seconds. Energy climbs into moderate territory—881 on Wednesday morning, 740 in the arvo. But the wind is still a problem, mostly cross-onshore or onshore. The forecast calls it “marginal” and honestly, it’s still not worth paddling out for.

Then we hit a period where things get a little more interesting, starting Thursday, August 27. That morning, we get a 5 ft SSW swell with a solid 14-second period, and the combined energy hits a strong 1037. The wind is onshore WSW at 6 mph, but it’s light. It’s still “marginal” but this is the first session with some real push. If you’re a beginner, 5 ft is right at your limit, so be smart. This is the best bet early on.

Friday, August 28 drops back a touch to 4 ft to 4 ft, but the energy stays moderate to strong (780 to 661). Wind is light onshore or cross-on. Still barely worth a mention.

Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30 bring cleaner conditions. On Saturday morning, we’ve got a 3 ft SSW swell, but the period lengthens to a nice 17 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell with good shape. Light onshore SW wind at 6 mph, so it’ll be glassy and clean. Energy is strong at 762. Sunday morning is similar: 4 ft, 15-second period, light onshore wind. For a point break like Terra Mar, that long-period groundswell will wrap in nicely. These are the standouts of the first week.

After that, from Monday, August 31 through Wednesday, September 2, it fades back to small, poor conditions with no redeeming features.

Now, the real standout—and it’s a risk because it’s far out—lands on Thursday, September 3 and Friday, September 4. On the 3rd, we get a 2 ft to 3 ft swell but with an *exceptionally* long period of 20 to 21 seconds from the SSW. Combined energy is strong at 623 to 683. More importantly, the wind on Thursday afternoon swings to a light cross-shore WNW at 6 mph, giving us clean lines. Friday the 4th is the pick: swell picks up to 4 ft to 4 ft, still a long 17 to 18 seconds, and the energy jumps to strong 928, topping out at a very strong 1056 Friday afternoon. Light cross-onshore wind but light enough to be glassy. For Terra Mar, that long period from the SSW is a beautiful match for the optimum WSW direction, so expect well-shaped, powerful waves. This is the session to circle on your calendar, but remember, it’s a long-range call—promising, but not locked in.

Signing off, Rusty.

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