The Well Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

We’ve got a solid run of south swell on the cards for The Well, and it’s looking like a classic late-season run. The water temp is sitting pretty much where it should be for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The action kicks off Friday 11 September with a bang. Morning glass-off conditions – light SSE breeze, clean as a whistle – and a solid 12ft SW groundswell with a 15-second period. The combined energy is pumping at 5841, and it’s a proper reef setup. This is big, powerful stuff, over 8ft, so it’s strictly for the experts. The drop is serious, the take-off zone is critical, and the rewards are huge. Friday afternoon sees the wind turn a bit cross-on, making it a touch lumpy, but the swell holds in at 13ft. The real standout of the whole window is Saturday 12 September. Morning offshore from the north at 6 mph, still a meaty 12ft SW groundswell, 15-second period, and glassy afternoon conditions. The energy is 4793 in the morning and 4005 in the arvo. That’s about as good as it gets for a wave that size. Expect crowds at The Well though, as it’s a known spot.

Sunday 13 September still has solid 7ft swell with offshore winds, but the wind is stronger at 15 mph, making it a bit more of a battle. The swell size drops a touch through the day. By Monday 14 September, the swell drops right off, the wind goes cross-shore and strong, and the quality disappears. We’re looking at a few days of poor surf here. Tuesday 15 September is a write-off – big, raw 16ft swell but with howling onshore cross-winds. The combined energy is nearly 10000, but it’s a mess. It’s more of a kitesurfing scene than a paddle-in day.

Wednesday 16 September is a curious one. The swell is still massive at 15ft, but the wind is light cross-on, so there’s some shape. The energy is massive (10323), but the conditions are marginal. It’s a gamble. Thursday 17 September brings a cleaner morning with a light cross-offshore breeze and 10ft swell, but it goes onshore in the afternoon. Friday 18 September through Saturday 19 September look better for the experienced crew, with moderate cross-offshore winds and 8ft to 12ft swells, but the forecast scores are lower, so it’s not quite the same quality as the first weekend.

The following week, from Sunday 20 September onwards, is more mixed. A few glassy mornings, a few onshore slop sessions. The standout in the second week is Tuesday 22 September – morning session with a 10ft SW groundswell, 15-second period, and a clean cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy is 6646. That’s a promising, long-range call. The swell direction is dead on the optimum for The Well, so if the timing lines up, it’ll be a ripper.

From Wednesday 23 September through Thursday 24 September, the onshore winds wreck it again. The last chance in the window is Saturday 26 September – a morning glass-off with 10ft SW groundswell, 14-second period, and 3472 energy. That’s a clean, sunny finish to the run.

Overall, the first weekend is the absolute peak. Saturday 12 September is the pick of the crop. The second week has a few promising moments, but they’re less certain.

Rusty.

Read more