The Harbour Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surf fans, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for The Harbour.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: it's a pretty grim outlook for the next week and a half. The opening days are a write-off. We're looking at a solid stretch of flat, choppy, or just plain messy conditions from Tuesday the 18th through to around the 25th of August. The wind is all over the shop, mostly onshore or cross-shore, and even when the swell tries to show up, it's tiny and weak. You're not missing a thing.

The pattern finally starts to shift around Wednesday the 26th of August. We get a pulse of swell from the SSE, pushing in at about 5ft. The energy jumps up to a moderate 401, which is a real sign of life. But the wind is a letdown – onshore from the ESE, making it choppy. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so at least you won't get a shock on that front.

The energy keeps building through the end of the month. On Thursday the 27th, we get a 5ft E swell with a period of 8 seconds, and the energy is a solid 229. But again, the wind is onshore from the ENE. This pattern of mediocre wind and building swell continues right through to the 29th of August, with the swell holding around 5ft to 5ft from the ENE. Good energy, but the wind is just not playing ball for a clean session.

Now, if you're holding out for a real window, look to Sunday the 30th of August. That morning, we finally get a change. The wind swings to a light, cross-offshore breeze from the SSE. The swell is a more manageable 4ft from the east, with a period of 7 seconds and moderate energy of 156. The report says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions" – but for this stretch, that's the best we've got. It's the one morning where the stars align a little bit for a grovel session.

After that, the swell drops off fast, and we're back to small, weak waves and strong winds for the start of September. The offshore winds on the 1st and 2nd of September are promising, but with the swell barely breaking 4ft, it's not going to be a day to write home about.

So, the standout? There's really only one. The Harbour on the morning of Sunday the 30th of August. It's not big, it's not perfect, but with a light cross-offshore wind, it'll be the cleanest and most surfable we've seen in weeks. Don't expect a barrel, but you'll get a few lined-up waist-high waves to yourself.

Other than that, it's a waiting game. The potential is there for a bigger swell in the last week of August, but the wind is the enemy. Keep your eye on the forecasts.

Rusty.

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