The Spit Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

First up, the outlook is a bit grim for the immediate future. We’re looking at a long stretch of flat, messy conditions. From Friday the 31st of July right through to the end of the first week of August, it’s just not doing much. The wind is all over the place, mostly cross or cross-onshore, and the swell is weak and short-period. There are a few mornings with clean-looking conditions, but the waves are tiny and the energy is just not there. It’s a tough run.

The first real flicker of hope comes on Tuesday the 4th of August. The wind goes light and cross-offshore from the NW, cleaning things up. The swell is tiny, only 1ft from the ESE with a period of 9 seconds, but the energy is weak (72). It’s a *maybe* if you’re desperate and have a longboard.

Wednesday the 5th is similar – light WNW wind, clean, but again, just 2ft and weak.

Then on Thursday the 6th of August, we get a glassy morning. The wind is dead calm, which is a major positive. The swell is still tiny at 2ft from the ENE, but that glassy surface will make it look pretty. The energy is only 46 though, so it’s really just a gentle ripple.

The pattern of tiny, clean waves continues through the weekend and into the next week. There are a few mornings with light offshore winds (NW or WNW), and the swell is consistently around 2ft to 3ft. It’s all very ordinary.

Now, the real news. The true standout period is Tuesday the 11th of August through to Thursday the 13th of August. This is the best on offer. The wind swings to a solid offshore from the WNW and W, 12-15 mph, which is exactly what we need for a clean face. The swell picks up a bit, but more importantly, the period gets long. On Tuesday afternoon, we have a 2ft swell from the E with a 13-second period, giving a combined energy of 281 – that’s moderate energy and it’s a proper groundswell. Wednesday and Thursday mornings see 3-3ft from the E with 11-second periods and energy in the 200-245 range. The wind is offshore and clean. This is when you want to be at The Spit.

The Spit is a river break, and with this long-period swell coming from the east, it should line up nicely. The long period will mean longer waits between sets but the waves will have more push and shape. The water temperature is around 69°, which is pretty normal for the time of year. Just keep in mind that The Spit can get crowded, so you’ll have company.

After that, the window closes a bit. Friday the 14th has a strong offshore wind (22 mph), which might be too much, and Saturday the 15th offers a clean-ish morning but the wind goes cross-off, and the surf is just ordinary again.

So, to sum it up: you’ve got a long, flat gap until the second week. The genuine highlight is from Tuesday the 11th to Thursday the 13th of August. That’s your window. Make the call.

Rusty.

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