Thousand Steps Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s talk about Thousand Steps. I’ll cut straight to it – the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for waves around here. There’s a real dry spell of surfable conditions, so don’t get your hopes up.

From Thursday 13th August we start off with a tiny swell only about 2ft out of the SW. It’s a long-period groundswell, around 16 seconds, but the wind’s blowing onshore from the SW, ruining any chance of clean waves. The combined energy is weak, at 287. That morning is a total miss. Thursday afternoon is cloudy again, still onshore at 10 mph, swell a bit bigger at 2ft, energy up to 370, but still poor. Not worth it.

Friday 14th August clears up, but the swell drops to 2ft from the SSW with a very long 19-second period. Energy climbs to 403, but the wind stays onshore from the WSW. By the afternoon, it becomes a cross-onshore breeze at around 9 mph, and the swell hits 2ft, energy at 487, but it’s choppy and messy. No good.

Saturday 15th August offers 3ft SSW swell with a 16-second period, energy at 434, but the wind is cross-onshore at 6 mph. Morning has wind ripples, afternoon winds pick up to 9 mph, swell hits 3ft, energy climbs to 562, but it’s only marginal. Sunday is similar: 3ft SSW swell, energy 491, cross-onshore winds, choppy.

All through the first week, from the 13th through to the 19th, it’s cross-onshore winds with light or gentle breezes. Swell heights range from 2ft to 3ft, but the quality is consistently poor – all scores are zero or one. No standouts at all.

From 20th August onward, nothing changes much. Swell stays small, between 1ft and 3ft, with long periods (13-19 seconds), but wind is still cross-onshore or onshore. Energy readings drop into the 100s and low 200s, meaning weak conditions. On the 23rd, we see a 1ft SW swell with a 19-second period, energy at 325, but again cross-onshore from the WNW at 9 mph – choppy.

Late in the outlook, around 24th August, a few “marginal” sessions appear. Monday 24th morning has 2ft SW swell, 18-second period, energy at 289, and a light onshore SW wind at 6 mph. It’s not great, but maybe if you’re desperate. Tuesday 25th morning is similar: 2ft SW swell, 16 seconds, energy at 318, onshore breeze. These are the best of a bad lot.

All the way to the 28th, it’s the same small, long-period swell with poor wind. Water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual. And with combined energy mostly under 500, often below 300, there’s no real power.

If I had to pick the best? The mornings of 24th, 25th, and 27th are “marginal” but still not good. The wind is light and onshore for some of those, but the swell is tiny. For beginners, heights never go above 4ft, so it’s not dangerous, but the chop and weak energy mean it’s more of a paddle. For experts, it’s a skip. Honestly, this looks more like a kiteboarding forecast than a surf one. I’d wait for the next weather change.

Rusty.

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