Thirroul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s talk about what Thirroul’s got cooking over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag – some clean windows early, then a rough patch, before a couple of real crackers later on. The standout sessions are worth the wait, but you’ll need to pick your times.

Wednesday 12 August kicks off with clean surf in the morning. You’ve got a 3ft S swell rolling in, period around 9 seconds, and a gentle offshore breeze from the W. The combined energy is moderate (218), and conditions should be tidy. That afternoon the wind shifts cross-off and drops the wave height to 3ft, but it stays clean and okay for a quick paddle. Thursday 13 August is more ordinary – still surfable in the morning with 3ft S swell and a light cross-off, but the energy is weaker (173) and nothing special. Afternoon turns cross-on and choppy, so I’d skip it.

Friday 14 August morning is a real treat – glassy conditions, total calm with calm winds, and 3ft S swell. That’s as clean as it gets. The combined energy is moderate (203), and the glass makes for lovely lines. Afternoon turns onshore and messy, so get out early.

Then we hit a big gap. From Saturday 15 August right through to Thursday 20 August, it’s pretty much a write-off. Southerly winds kick up, swell gets messy, and we’re looking at poor surf conditions day after day with cross-onshore and onshore breezes. The swell hangs around 5ft to 6ft but with short periods of 6 to 8 seconds, so it’s lumpy and weak. Combined energy is moderate to strong (up to 427), but the quality is terrible. A few mornings show marginal conditions, but honestly, it’s not worth suiting up. That’s a solid six-day lull.

Friday 21 August morning comes back alive. The wind turns cross-off from the NNW, it’s clean, and we’ve got 4ft ENE swell with a period of 8 seconds. Combined energy is moderate (226), and the surf is rideable but not huge. The afternoon gets a cross-shore chop again, so stick to the morning.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Saturday 22 August is a gem. The morning has a cross-off breeze from the NW, 5ft ENE swell, and the period stretches to 11 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. Combined energy jumps to 496 (strong), and conditions are clean. The afternoon goes glassy with calm winds and 5ft ENE swell, period still 11 seconds, and combined energy hits 609 (very strong). That’s the best session on offer – smooth, powerful, and clean. Sunday 23 August morning keeps the run going with 5ft ENE swell, 11 seconds, and a cross-off from the N. Combined energy is 521 (very strong), and it’s clean again. The afternoon gets marginal with a picky wind, but the morning is a standout.

Monday 24 August holds decent with offshore winds from the W, 4ft ENE swell, and a 10-second period. Clean and fun for a relaxed session. Tuesday 25 August is similar but with a cross-off wind – still clean, 4ft ENE swell, and moderate energy (307).

Then we get the bomb. Wednesday 26 August morning is an absolute ripper for the experienced crew. A solid 13ft S swell rolling in, period 10 seconds, and glassy conditions with calm winds. The combined energy is enormous at 2874 – that’s very strong, powerful swell. This is not for beginners, not for the faint of heart. Only experts should be out there. The afternoon turns onshore from the ESE and drops to 10ft, so get it early. Thursday 27 August morning keeps the size up at 8ft S swell with a cross-shore NNE wind. Combined energy is still huge at 1985, but the conditions are a bit choppier. Good for advanced surfers, but not as perfect as the Wednesday morning.

All up, the real standouts are the Friday 14 August morning for clean small waves, and the Saturday 22 August afternoon for that glassy groundswell. If you’re experienced, the Wednesday 26 August morning is one for the books.

The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing wild to report on that front.

Thirroul is a beach and reef setup, exposed to the S swell, and the optimum direction is SE. The crowds can pop up sometimes, so keep an eye out, especially on the good days.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty

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