Thirroul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Gotta level with you — the next fortnight at Thirroul is a mixed bag, and the first few days are pretty flat. The solid stuff doesn’t show up until the end of next week, and even then, we’ve got a bit of wind to dodge. Let’s walk through it.

The early days, from Wednesday the 19th of August, are pretty ordinary. Small swell around 2ft from the ESE, but with a cross-shore breeze and only 175 combined energy — weak, messy, not worth paddling out. Thursday the 20th offers a glimmer: morning’s still tiny at 2ft, but the wind goes light cross-off, so it’s clean. Then you get the afternoon glass-off — 3ft from the NE with only 117 combined energy. Still small and weak, but glassy. Not a standout, just a quiet harbour session.

The weekend gets worse. Friday the 21st has a morning pulse of 3ft from the ENE with offshore wind, but the combined energy is a scant 52. Come Saturday the 22nd, it’s basically flat — 1ft and 9 combined energy. Sunday the 23rd? Maybe a 1ft glassy morning, but you’re counting single waves. The first full week is a write-off.

Now, hold onto your board — Thursday the 27th of August is the one. Morning sees 3ft from the ESE with light cross-off wind and 281 combined energy — moderate, clean, and the best setup we’ve seen. Then Thursday afternoon turns on: 4ft from the SE, dead calm wind (glassy), and 332 combined energy. That’s the standout session. Clean, punchy, well-shaped for the reef part of Thirroul. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.

Friday the 28th holds a bit: 3ft from the ESE again, cross-off wind, 186 combined energy — surfable but ordinary. After that, it goes south. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th get hammered by a strong SSE swell — 12ft and 10ft, but with 22–25 mph cross-onshore wind and combined energy skyrocketing into the 1289–1500 range. That’s way too big and messy for paddle surfing. That setup would be more interesting for kite surfing than a surfboard.

Monday the 31st drops back to 2ft from the SSE, but the period jumps to 16 seconds — very long period groundswell. Combined energy is still 289, but with fresh cross-onshore wind, it’s lumpy and hard to manage. Long period swells like that tend to break straight on the beach but could wrap around the reef if the wind eases. It doesn’t.

From the 1st to the 3rd of September, it’s small again — 1ft to 2ft, mostly S or ENE, with light winds. The morning of Wednesday the 2nd has a glassy 2ft from the ENE and only 87 combined energy — barely a ripple.

So, best on offer is that Thursday the 27th of August, especially the afternoon. 4ft of SE swell, glassy, 332 combined energy. Clean, moderate power, and with the right wind, Thirroul’s reef lines will be reeling. The morning of the 27th is a strong backup if you can’t wait. After that, the wind and size turn it into a kite party.

Water temp is about average for this time of year, no major anomaly flagged — just your typical late winter chill.

Keep an eye on the 27th, and don’t bother before then.

— Rusty

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