The Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s talk about what’s on the table for The Reef.

The next 16 days look like a proper test of patience, honestly. We've got a good dose of swell rolling through, but the wind is going to be the main character here, and for a lot of this run, it's gonna be a battle. The water temp is sitting around 66°, which is a bit colder than you'd expect for this time of year, so factor that into your rubber choice.

Looking at Tuesday the 15th and Wednesday the 16th, you can just about scratch those out. We've got some small to building swell, but the wind is howling from the north at 15 to 28 mph, putting a nasty cross-chop on everything. The wave energy is weak to moderate (115–1586), but it's completely unsurfable. Just a mess.

Things start to look a little more interesting by Thursday morning the 17th. The swell is up around 7ft from the NW with a 10-second period, and the wind turns cross-off from the NNE at 19 mph. That cleans it up nicely, but the conditions are still called marginal. It's a looker, not a grommet’s wave at that size—it’s pushing into expert territory.

Friday the 18th is more of the same. Solid 8ft NW swell, but the north wind keeps it lumpy and cross. It’s not clean, and the energy is moderate (1008). You’d be wrestling it all session.

Now, Saturday the 19th – this is the standout. This is what we’ve been waiting for. Morning session is the call. We’ve got a clean 8ft swell from the NNW, but here’s the magic: the period is a very long 14 seconds, and the wind is light offshore from the east at 6 mph. The wave energy is strong (2590), and the report calls it excellent for experienced surfers. This is groundswell, proper energy, and with that offshore breeze, The Reef should be offering up some beautiful, lined-up waves. The long period means longer lulls, but the sets will be well-defined and powerful. This is a reef break, so it will handle that long-period energy perfectly. It’s likely to be a bit crowded, so get out early.

Sunday the 20th is a solid follow-up. Morning still has a light offshore from the ESE with a dropping 6ft NNW swell (period 12 seconds). The wave energy is moderate (828), but conditions are clean and very good. It’s a great option for the intermediate crew stepping down from the Saturday bombs.

The middle of next week, Monday the 21st through Wednesday the 23rd, has smaller surf. The swell drops to around 3ft to 5ft. There are some clean moments, like Tuesday morning the 22nd with a glassy 4ft NW swell (period 12 seconds) and no wind – that’s a sneaky good longboard day, with moderate energy (410). But a lot of the afternoons get choppy again with onshore breezes.

Thursday the 24th morning is another glassy gem. Flat calm, with a 4ft NW groundswell (11-second period). Wave energy is low (282), but perfect for a peaceful dawny on the smaller boards. It’s a quiet one.

Looking into the second week, Friday the 25th and Saturday the 26th get messy again. Saturday the 26th sees a jump in swell back to 7ft from the WNW with a very long 15-second period, and strong wave energy (2340), but the north wind at 19 mph puts a cross-chop on it, making it a marginal proposition at best. It’s promising but less certain as it gets further out. Overall, from Sunday the 27th onwards, the trend is dropping swell with persistent cross and cross-on winds, making it a tough week to get a clean one.

So for the best on offer, it's Saturday morning the 19th of September at The Reef. The 8ft NNW groundswell with a 14-second period and light offshore east wind is your shot at something special. Sunday morning the 20th is the best backup plan for a slightly smaller but still clean session.

That’s the read, folks. See you in the water.

- Rusty

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