Thirroul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what Thirroul’s got cooking for us over the next couple of weeks.

First up, it’s a bit of a rough start. Sunday the 5th is a write-off with rain showers and a strong 19 mph south wind slapping the swell into a messy 10 ft cross-onshore chop. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine. The combined swell energy is pumping (2799), but with that wind, it’s all for nothing. Monday the 6th and Tuesday the 7th stay pretty average too – solid 8 ft to 10 ft SSE swell but the wind stays cross or cross-on, making things lumpy. The energy is massive (over 4000 on Tuesday arvo), but the quality just isn’t there for a good paddle.

The water temp is sitting at 65°F, which is about normal for this time of year – no surprises there.

Wednesday the 8th drops a touch in size to around 8 ft, but still cross-onshore from the S. Not much to get excited about. Thursday the 9th and Friday the 10th see the swell easing to 6 ft–6 ft, with lighter winds – still cross or cross-on, but the chop cleans up a bit. The energy drops into the 500s and 600s, so it’s weak-ish.

Now here’s a glimmer – Saturday morning the 11th. The swell drops to 4 ft from the SE with a period of 9 seconds, but the wind goes glassy from the NW. That’s clean, clean, clean. The energy is low (248), but for a small, clean session, this could be a fun little window for the logs or a fish. Don’t expect barrels – just cruisey lines. After that, it fades fast. Sunday the 12th through to Wednesday the 15th is a flat spell. We’re talking 1.0 ft to 3 ft and dropping – basically a lull. The energy drops into double digits by Tuesday. That’s a solid 4-day gap with nothing worth paddling out for. You’d be better off going for a run.

Then Thursday the 16th livens up again. A fresh 10 ft pulse of S swell arrives, but it’s cross-shore with 16–19 mph winds – lumpy and messy. The energy is high (3417), but again, the wind ruins it. Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Friday the 17th morning: we’ve got 8 ft of SSE groundswell, period 10 seconds, and the wind shifts cross-offshore from the SW at only 6 mph. The comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers,” and I can see why. The combined energy (1876) is solid – this is a standout. The wave size is over 8 ft, so it’s experts-only, but if you’ve got the skill, this is the best window early in the run. The break at Thirroul is a beach and reef setup, and with that SSW cross-off wind, it’ll hold shape nicely.

Saturday the 18th is another big day – 10 ft SE groundswell with a 12-second period and a clean offshore NW wind at 6 mph. That’s classic Thirroul with a nice long-period groundswell. Combined energy is 2257 – strong. The period is over 11 seconds, so it’ll have plenty of grunt. This spot handles that direction well, so expect long, powerful walls. Sunday the 19th holds 6 ft to 7 ft SE swell with clean offshore or cross-off winds, energy around 772 to 2007. Monday the 20th still offers 8 ft SSE swell with light cross-off breeze, energy 1171.

So overall, the real standout is Friday 17th morning through Monday 20th morning. If you can only pick one, Friday morning the 17th with that light cross-off and 8 ft SSE groundswell is the pick – clean, powerful, and for the experienced crew. Saturday the 18th morning runs a close second with that offshore NW wind and a longer period. The early part of the forecast is a battle with onshore wind and big messy swell, and the middle week goes flat. But that last few days come good.

Stay stoked, and mind the crowds – Thirroul can get busy when it’s clean. - Rusty

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