The Island Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for the Island. This is a solid reef setup that loves a good SW groundswell, and we’ve got plenty of that in the pipeline. It’s going to be a run for experienced surfers only, with some real standout windows if you time it right.

The water temperature is sitting at 60°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first few days are a write-off. Saturday the 5th is a total mess with howling WSW cross-onshore winds at 25 mph, and the swell is a jumbled 8 ft. Not worth paddling out. That clears up nicely by Sunday morning the 6th. We get a clean 7 ft SW groundswell (14 sec period) with a light SE cross-off breeze. The energy is pumping with a combined energy reading of 2144. Conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. This is a proper window. Sunday afternoon drops a touch to 6 ft and stays clean, still a good option.

Monday the 7th is smaller, only 3 ft to 4 ft, and the wind is offshore or cross-off, but the energy is weak (401 to 722). It’s clean but marginal. Tuesday the 8th sees a return of a longer-period SW groundswell at 6 ft and a 17-second period. The energy is strong (1801), and the morning is clean with a gentle ESE cross-off. That’s a fantastic session. The period is very long, so this reef will hold it beautifully, but it might be a bit too straight for a beach break. For a reef, it’s a dream.

Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th are the biggest push of the outlook. Swell holds at 8 ft to 8 ft with a very long 17 to 18-second period. The combined energy is massive, hitting 3984 on Wednesday afternoon. Morning winds are strong offshore from the SE, keeping things clean. This is big, powerful groundswell – only for the pros. The energy is enormous.

After that, it settles down for a while. From Friday the 11th through to Monday the 14th, the swell drops to 5 ft and below, with periods of onshore wind and poor conditions. There’s a notable gap with no real recommendation from Friday afternoon through to Monday. We get a refreshing change on Tuesday the 15th with a clean 5 ft to 6 ft SW groundswell returning, and the energy picks back up (2592). The wind is cross-off from the SSE. Good.

The absolute standout, the one you want to circle on the calendar, is Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th. Wednesday morning brings a 7 ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period and a clean offshore wind from the east. The energy is strong (2120). Excellent conditions for experienced surfers. But Thursday the 17th is something special. The morning is a bit cloudy with a 7 ft SW groundswell (17 sec, 2821 energy), but the afternoon goes completely glassy – zero wind, calm conditions. The swell is a perfect 7 ft with a long period. This is the best of the best. The waves will be clean, powerful, and lined up.

The last few days from Friday the 18th onward are messy again with onshore winds and smaller, weaker swell. The only glimmer is Sunday the 20th morning, which is glassy with a 5 ft SW groundswell. It’s good, but nothing like the mid-week bomb.

So, the pick is clear: Thursday the 17th afternoon. Glassy conditions, 7 ft SW groundswell, massive energy. It’s an expert-only wave, but it will be a session to remember.

Rusty.

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