The Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Howdy, Rusty here. Look, straight up, the next couple of days at The Heads are pretty average—marginal conditions and questionable tides are making it tough to get excited. There’s a bit of swell around, but the winds are messing it up. Don’t get too keen until we see a shift.

Monday 24th August: A 5.2ft SW swell rolls in, but it’s got a cross-onshore wind and the wave energy is moderate (1048). Water temp is 58.6°, which is a good 4.5° colder than normal—so it’s gonna feel pretty nippy out there. Not a great start.

Tuesday 25th: The swell jumps to 8.2ft from the SW with a long 15-second period. The morning has light onshore wind, but the afternoon shifts cross-onshore. Wave energy is getting proper strong (3983). Still, the quality is choked by the wind and tide. Not the one.

Wednesday 26th: A drop to 5.2ft from the SSW with a 12-second period, but a moderate cross wind (12 mph) and then a fresh cross wind (22 mph) in the arvo makes a lumpy, choppy mess. Wave energy is moderate to strong (2078 to 2436). Hard pass.

Thursday 27th: Now we’re talking. This is the standout of the first week. The morning turns glassy—zero wind—with a clean 5.9ft SSW swell, 12-second period, and strong energy (1474). It's only for experienced surfers at that size, but if you’re up for it, this is your window. The Heads will be clean and powerful. The afternoon drops to a 6.6ft ESE swell but gets a cross wind, so hit that morning.

Friday 28th: Another good morning with a 5.2ft E swell, 10-second period, glassy conditions, and moderate energy (970). The afternoon stays glassy with a smaller 4.3ft ESE swell (747). Both sessions are clean, but the swell’s a bit softer. Worth a paddle if you missed Thursday.

Saturday 29th: Swell drops right off—2.3ft to 3.0ft—with offshore wind in the morning but cross-off in the arvo. Not enough size to get excited. Wave energy is low (472 to 551).

Sunday 30th: Swell builds back to 6.2ft from the SW, but cross-onshore and cross winds make it choppy. Strong energy (1667 to 3345), but the quality’s not there.

Monday 31st: Back to 5.2ft SW swell, cross and cross-onshore winds. Moderate energy (704 and 686). Nothing special.

Tuesday 1st September: Tiny 3.0ft SW swell, cross-onshore. Energy is weak (351). Then the arvo sees 6.6ft SW swell but again cross-onshore. Not recommended.

Wednesday 2nd September: Now, here’s a big one—11.5ft to 9.8ft SW swell with a 13-second period and strong energy (2995 to 3920). But it’s cross-onshore and the swell is too big for The Heads. This is expert-only territory, and even then, the wind and conditions are marginal. I’d say wait for a better day.

Thursday 3rd September: Massive 19.7ft to 21.3ft swell from the SE with a short 10-second period. Onshore winds at 16 mph. Wave energy is extreme (7710 to 10331). This is dangerous and poor quality. Avoid.

Friday 4th September: Still huge—23.0ft from the ESE with an 11-second period and extreme energy (12478 down to 11436). Cross-off wind in the morning, cross in the arvo. The swell is predicted to be too big for this break. Not safe for paddle surfing. If you have a kite, maybe look at it, but for a surfboard, stay on the beach.

Saturday 5th September: Dropping to 11.5ft ESE swell in the morning with cross wind, then 8.2ft in the arvo. Still too big for a comfortable session. Energy is strong (3350 to 2121). The wind is not ideal either.

Sunday 6th September: Back to 7.2ft from the SSW with a very long 16-second period, cross wind, moderate to fresh breeze. Wave energy is strong (3010 to 1878). That long period groundswell will be breaking straight at a sandbar, so it’s tricky. Not the best.

Monday 7th September: A 6.6ft SSE swell with a 10-second period and cross-off wind. Moderate energy (1193).

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