The Box Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on offer for The Box over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – there’s a big blank stretch here, so don’t get your hopes up too early.

The next 16 days start off with a real flat spell. From Tuesday the 25th of August right through to the morning of Wednesday the 9th of September, there’s practically nothing in the water. The wave energy is a big fat zero for most of that, with just a few weak dribbles showing up here and there that won’t get you out of your wetsuit. It’s a long, quiet period, and the occasional bump we see is tiny, short-period stuff that’s barely worth a mention.

Then, finally, on the morning of Wednesday the 9th of September, we see a pulse of life. Swell jumps up to 5ft from the NNE, with a period of 6 seconds. The combined energy hits 190 (moderate wave energy), so there’s finally some push. The water is a very warm 83°F with a +4°F anomaly – that’s much warmer than the usual for this time of year, so you’ll be comfortable in a spring suit.

Now, the bad news: this swell is 5ft, which is pushing it for beginners, but it’s not overly big. The real kicker is the wind. That Wednesday morning the wind is glassy – dead calm, which is a major positive. That means the surface will be clean as a whistle. But, the swell is coming from the NNE, which is not the optimum direction for The Box (it likes ENE), and the period is short at 6 seconds. That short period means the waves won’t have much shape or power, and at a beach and reef setup like The Box, it could be a bit crumby and hard to find a good shoulder. The crowd factor is “sometimes” here, so on a Wednesday morning with a bit of size, you might see a few others out.

By the afternoon, the wind swings onshore from the east at 6 mph, and the swell drops to 5ft with a better period of 8 seconds, but that onshore wind will mess it up. The energy is higher at 253 (moderate), but the wind is a killer.

So, the standout here is *only* the Wednesday 9th morning session. It’s the only time in the entire forecast with a clean, glassy surface and a wave you can actually ride. It’s not going to be a classic The Box day, but if you’re desperate for a paddle and some clean lines, that’s your window. The rest of the run is a write-off, which is a real shame. For a spot that’s already inconsistent, this blank run is pretty normal for the area. Forecasts can change, but for now, that Wednesday morning is your only shot.

Rusty.

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