The Well Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what The Well has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. For an advanced reef set-up, this is shaping up to be a real mixed bag, with some incredible windows of opportunity but also some proper slop to dodge.

We’ve got a solid run of surf kicking off Sunday, 16 August, with a 10ft SW groundswell (period 14 seconds) and moderate wave energy (3832). But Sunday is a write-off for paddling. The wind is cross or cross-on and that combo gives us marginal, choppy conditions. Not worth your time.

The real show starts Monday, 17 August. The morning brings a still-strong 8ft SW swell, but now with a long 16-second period and a light cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy is solid (2925). That’s the recipe for clean, powerful lines at this reef. Get on it early before the afternoon wind swings cross and adds some chop. This is a standout session for experienced surfers.

Tuesday, 18 August, might actually be the pick of the first week. The swell drops a touch to 6ft SW but holds that 14-second period. The kicker is the moderate offshore wind from the NE. Clean all day. The combined energy (1985) means plenty of push without being overwhelming. This is the one to circle on the calendar.

Wednesday, 19 August, is a classic case of the window shrinking. Fresh offshore winds keep it clean, but the swell drops to 4ft and the energy drops into the weak category (647). It’s ridable for an advanced crew on a longboard or a step-up, but it’s not the meaty stuff we saw earlier.

We then hit a rough patch. Thursday and Friday (20th and 21st) see the swell bumping back up, but the wind state gets messy. By Friday afternoon, it’s an 12ft SW swell with a 45 km/h cross-on wind and energy spiking to 6755. That’s pure chaos. Saturday, 22 August, is even worse – 15ft surf and onshore winds. This is big, dangerous, wind-blown junk. Leave it for the tow crews and the kite surfers; this is not a paddle session.

Sunday, 23 August, offers a glimmer of hope. The swell is still a massive 13ft from the SW, with a long 16-second period, but a moderate cross-offshore wind cleans it up. The combined energy is very strong (7413). This is expert-only territory – big, powerful, hollow waves. If you have the skills and the balls, it could be a session of your life. If you don't, stay on the beach.

The outlook then deteriorates again into a long, bleak stretch from Monday, 24 August, all the way through to Thursday, 27 August. Onshore winds, rain, and consistent on-shore chop make the surf poor. The swell stays big to moderate, but with the wind blowing straight on, it’s unsurfable. Expect about four days of nothing good.

The final standout comes right at the end of the period. On Friday, 28 August, we see a new 7ft to 8ft SW groundswell (15-16 second period) arrive with light offshore to cross-off winds. Combined energy is a solid 2252 to 2577. It’s clean and powerful. Then Saturday, 29 August morning, is pure magic: 6ft SW swell with glassy conditions and a 13-second period. That’s as good as it gets for clean, lined-up waves. This late run is your second-week hope, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it.

Stay sharp. Rusty out.

Read more