The Heads Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of swell ahead at The Heads, but it’s not all clean. The first few days are a bit messy with cross-shore wind, but the second half of the week and into next week, there’s some real gems.

The opening session on Wednesday 12th August is tricky. You’ve got a 5ft SSW swell with a 20-second period – that’s a long-period groundswell with plenty of energy (2539), but the 12 mph easterly cross-wind is chopping it up. Thursday morning the 13th is a step up: 5ft SSW swell, still 19-second period, but the wind swings to a cross-offshore NE at 12 mph, and the water is clean. Afternoon gets even better: 6ft SW, 17-second period, and a gentle 9 mph NE cross-offshore breeze. The energy is pumping (2794), and it’s excellent for experienced surfers – that’s the first standout.

Friday 14th August is the real treat. Morning has a 5ft SW swell, 16-second period, and a clean offshore NNE wind at 6 mph (1376 energy). Then afternoon turns glassy: 4ft SW, 15-second period, and a 3 mph NE glass-off. The ocean is flat calm. That’s the best of the first week – a long, clean, glassy session.

Saturday 15th drops off. A 4ft SW swell with onshore wind and chop. Sunday 16th stays small and cross-shore. Monday 17th picks back up to 6ft SW, but the wind is still cross-shore. The next real jump is Wednesday 19th August afternoon: 6ft SW, 11-second period, glassy conditions with a 3 mph SSW breeze. The water turns glassy again, and the energy is 771 – not huge, but clean.

Then we get a big pulse. The standout of the whole run is Sunday 23rd August. Morning: 10ft SSW swell, 11-second period, dead calm winds (0 mph), glassy. The energy is massive (2664). That’s a solid groundswell, and with glassy conditions, it’s going to be epic. But at 10ft, this is strictly for experts – beginners, stay on the beach. Afternoon stays glassy with a 3 mph SSE breeze. The swell is still 10ft, but the energy drops a touch to 1967 – still excellent.

Monday 24th August drops to 6ft SSW with cross-shore wind, and Tuesday 25th August morning has a clean 4ft S swell, 13-second period, and glassy conditions (931 energy). Wednesday 26th August morning is tiny: 4ft WSW, only 6-second period, but glassy again. That short period means weak, lumpy waves – only worth a paddle if you’re desperate.

The long-range runs into the second week are less certain. Friday 21st August has a 7ft SSW swell, but the wind is cross-shore and the conditions are marginal. The energy is decent (1769), but the wind spoils it. Saturday 22nd August holds 8ft SSW, again cross-shore and a bit onshore Sunday afternoon. The real standouts are clearly Thursday 13th afternoon, Friday 14th glassy, and Sunday 23rd expert-only glassy glory.

The Heads is a sandbar setup, so that long-period swell (over 15 seconds) on Friday 14th might break a bit straight, but with offshore and glassy wind, it’ll still be fun. For the Sunday 23rd monster, the long period (11 seconds) is fine, and the glassy conditions will make those big sets clean and powerful.

The water temp is about average for this time of year – no anomaly to report. Crowds are “sometimes” at The Heads, so expect a few locals out on the good days, but nothing crazy.

If you’re a beginner, stick to the sub-5ft days like Tuesday 25th morning or Wednesday 26th morning. The 10ft Sunday is for the crew who know what they’re doing.

Rusty.

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