The South Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you—this stretch of the next couple of weeks is a tough one for the South Jetty. We're looking at a long, lean spell with very little to get excited about, but there's a glimmer way out there if you're patient.

The water is sitting at a balmy 79°, which is a solid 5° warmer than usual for this time of year. That's seriously warm, almost like bathwater, so you won't need a thick suit.

Starting off, we've got almost nothing. Wednesday the 12th through to the weekend, it's all tiny, weak, and often messy. Swell heights are barely a ripple, mostly under 2 ft, and the energy is pitiful, reading just 6 to 34 on the combined energy scale. The wind is all over the place—cross-off, onshore, cross-on—but the waves just aren't there to bother with. Thursday morning the 13th has a little clean-up with a light W cross-off, but the swell is only 2 ft from the south with a short 5-second period. It's a flat spell.

We then go through a gap of several days—Friday the 14th, Saturday the 15th, and Sunday the 16th—where the surf is just as poor. Wind picks up, especially Sunday with a risk of thunderstorms and a fresh 22 mph southerly. The waves may reach 3 ft, but it's lumpy and cross-onshore. Not worth paddling out.

Monday the 17th is the first time we see a bit of life. The morning brings a moderate NNW offshore breeze at 12 mph, and the swell bumps up to 3 ft from the SSE with a 7-second period. The combined energy is 66, still weak, but it's clean and surfable—just very ordinary. The afternoon goes glassy with a slick surface, but the swell drops to 2 ft.

From there, it's back to the doldrums. Tuesday the 18th through to the 25th sees a relentless run of poor surf conditions. Swells stay tiny, usually under 3 ft, with short periods and low energy (mostly under 70). The wind is often cross-shore or onshore, with a few clean moments but no real punch. The South Jetty is a consistent spot, but this run is testing even that.

Now, if you can hold out, there's a standout window on Wednesday the 26th. Both the morning and afternoon show a clean 5 ft swell from the east with a 7-second period. The combined energy jumps to 211 (moderate) and the wind is offshore from the NW in the morning and a clean cross-off from the WSW in the afternoon. This is the best we've got. The swell direction is from the east, which is not the optimum SE, but with offshore wind and clean conditions, it's going to be a fun, manageable size for intermediates. No crowds mentioned, but it could be busy. The period is short, so expect lumpy, quick waves, not the long lines of a groundswell.

Thursday the 27th sees a return to poor form with a moderate onshore breeze and dropping swell.

So, the verdict: this is a rough start. The only real standout is Wednesday the 26th, so mark it in your calendar. The rest of the 16 days is a write-off with tiny, weak surf. Even for a consistent spot like this, it's a dry spell. It might be more interesting to watch the kite surfers if the wind blows strong.

Rusty.

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