The Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

The only spot on the radar this run is The Bowl, and it’s a real mixed bag over the next 16 days. We’ve got a few windows that look worth paddling out for, but there’s plenty of chop and strong wind to work through, especially in the first week.

The Bowl fires up with a little pulse on Friday morning, August 7th, but with a 0.7m W swell at a short 6 seconds and a stiff 30 km/h cross-off, it’s pretty poor. The combined swell energy is weak at 71 – not worth getting wet for. The water’s sitting at 13°, which is bang on normal for this time of year.

The first real standout comes Saturday afternoon, August 8th. The swell jumps to 2.1m from the W, period stretches to 10 seconds, and the wind swings offshore at 25 km/h. That’s the ticket – clean lines, moderate energy (combined energy of 818), and the offshore wind is going to groom those waves. The Bowl is a reef break, so that long-period groundswell will hold up nicely. It’s an advanced wave, and with crowds sometimes, you might have to work for a few. This is the best on offer in the whole forecast.

Monday afternoon, August 10th, is another gem. The swell drops a touch to 1.8m from the NNW, but the wind goes glassy at 5 km/h. That’s dead calm, and the combined energy is still solid at 714. You’ll get clean, peeling waves at The Bowl, and it’s a real treat for those who can handle the reef.

After that, things get messy. The wind picks up again, the swell drops, and we’re into a long stretch of poor to marginal conditions. There’s a brief window on Tuesday morning, August 11th, with 1.2m N swell and clean cross-off wind (combined energy 242), but the energy is just okay. The second week is mostly a write-off – strong winds, lumpy cross-chop, and swell heights that don’t really get the heart racing. The Bowl sees a few pulses, like 1.8m on Thursday afternoon, August 13th, but it’s wrapped in a 35 km/h cross-off and only rated marginal.

The last glimmer comes on Sunday afternoon, August 16th, with a 1.6m W swell and a light offshore at 10 km/h. The combined energy hits 437, and the conditions look clean. It’s not a standout, but it’s something to keep an eye on if you’re desperate.

So, to sum it up: Saturday afternoon, August 8th, is your best bet by a mile. Monday afternoon, August 10th, is a close second. The rest of the run is a lot of wind and chop, with a few okay moments. The Bowl is a reef break, so it’s not for beginners, and when the swell gets over 2.5m (which it doesn’t here), it’s only for the brave. The long periods (10 seconds) will give you good shape, but the sets will be a bit spaced out. Stick to the windows I’ve called out, and you’ll be fine.

Stay salty,
Rusty.

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