The Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's get into it.

We've got a bit of a mixed bag coming up for The Heads over the next couple of weeks. The water is sitting at 60°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you'll want the thickest winter rubber you've got.

The early action is on Friday the 28th. The morning is a bit of a write-off with some cross-on wind, but the afternoon is where it's at. We've got a clean 4-foot south swell, and the wind goes glassy. That's the kind of magic window you don't want to miss – it'll be smooth as silk. The combined energy is moderate at 765, so there's enough push to get you into a few.

Saturday morning the 29th looks a bit lumpy and messy, so give it a miss. The afternoon cleans up with a cross-off breeze and a 2-foot southwest swell, but it's a bit small. Still, a long 13-second period on that one means the lines will be nice and organized.

Sunday the 30th is a tale of two sessions. The morning is a bit cross and chunky at 6 feet, but the afternoon is the real standout. We're looking at 7 feet of southwest swell with a 12-second period, and, crucially, the wind goes glassy again. The combined energy jumps to a solid 1209, so there's proper power behind it. That's a top pick for the clean, punchy waves.

The start of the week is a bit average. Monday and Tuesday are plagued by cross-onshore wind and messy conditions, with the swell hanging around 5 feet to 8 feet. The energy is okay, but the wind is just ruining it.

Now, Wednesday the 2nd of September is a big one, but it's for experts only. The swell is predicted to be massive, hitting 13 feet with a 17-second period from the SSW. The combined energy is a massive 8282. The wind is cross-shore, but the sheer size will make it a wash-through and a paddle battle. This is not for the faint of heart.

The end of the first week and into the second week really drops off. Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th are a complete mess with strong winds and lumpy, onshore junk. The swell is still there, but it's unsurfable. Honestly, with those strong cross-shore winds and the beach setup, it looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

We get a brief reprieve on Saturday the 5th of September. The morning is clean with a cross-off breeze and a solid 10-foot southeast swell. The energy is strong at 2193. That's a good session for experienced surfers who can handle a bit of size. The afternoon is too big for the break, though.

The following Sunday and Monday see a big drop in quality. The swell is still there, but the wind is messy again. Tuesday the 8th of September offers a nice little window with a glassy morning and a 4-foot swell, but the period is a short 9 seconds, so it won't have much grunt. The energy is weak at 435.

The rest of the 16-day window is a write-off with poor conditions, strong onshore winds, and short-period junk. There's a lot of flat, windy days in there.

The standout is absolutely Sunday afternoon the 30th of August. Glassy conditions, a solid 7-foot groundswell, and plenty of energy. That's the one to circle. The Saturday morning the 5th of September is a good backup for the more experienced crew.

Rusty.

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