Tippers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – for the next couple of weeks, this stretch is in a bit of a funk. There’s nothing that’s going to get your heart racing. The best we can say is that from the middle of next week onwards, conditions start looking a little more promising, but we’re still talking about small, marginal surf. There are no big swells on the cards, and the wind is often onshore or cross-onshore, so the quality is going to be average at best.

We’ve only got one break in the mix for the whole 16-day window: Tippers. It’s a reef break that’s very consistent and works best with swell from the SW. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

Sunday 13th September kicks off with a tiny SW groundswell at 2ft with a period of 13 seconds and combined energy of 228 (weak). It’s poor. The wind is a gentle cross-onshore, so it’s going to be fairly choppy. Afternoon sees the swell drop to 1ft, period stretches to 19 seconds, but the energy picks up to 291 (still weak). The wind goes onshore. Honestly, it’s not worth a paddle.

Monday 14th September sees a bit more size with a 4ft W swell, but the period is a short 8 seconds and the energy is 387 (moderate). The wind is a moderate cross-onshore, so it’s going to be choppy. Not great. The afternoon drops back to 2ft and 18 seconds period from the SW with 413 energy (moderate), but the cross-onshore wind is still there. It’s poor.

Tuesday 15th September morning offers 2ft SW swell at 16 seconds period with 274 energy (weak) and light onshore wind. The afternoon has 2ft from the S at 20 seconds period, energy jumps to 432 (moderate), but the wind is still onshore. It’s all poor.

Wednesday 16th September is the first day we get a sniff of something better. The morning sees 3ft from the SSW at 17 seconds period with energy at 521 (moderate). The wind is light and onshore, so it could be glassy, but the surf is marginal – it’s a "questionable tide" call. The afternoon is similar at 3ft and 16 seconds, energy 375 (moderate). Still light wind. It’s not great, but it’s the best we’ve seen.

Thursday 17th September has 3ft from the SSW at 16 seconds period, energy 515 (moderate) in the morning. The wind is light and cross-onshore, just small ripples. It’s marginal. The afternoon is the same story: 3ft, 15 seconds, energy 506 (moderate), gentle cross-onshore. Still just marginal.

Friday 18th September morning: 2ft SW at 19 seconds, energy 477 (moderate), light cross-onshore. It’s poor. The afternoon edges into marginal with 2ft SW at 19 seconds, energy 520 (moderate), still light cross-onshore.

Saturday 19th September morning: 3ft SW at 18 seconds, energy 547 (moderate), light onshore. Marginal. Afternoon is the same: 3ft, 18 seconds, energy 516 (moderate), light onshore.

Sunday 20th September morning: 3ft SW at 18 seconds, energy 715 (moderate to strong), but the wind is a gentle cross-onshore, so it’s choppy. Marginal. Afternoon: 3ft, 18 seconds, energy 683 (moderate), light onshore.

Monday 21st September morning: 3ft SW at 17 seconds, energy 692 (moderate), gentle cross-onshore – still choppy. Afternoon: 3ft at 17 seconds, energy 711 (moderate to strong), light onshore. Still just marginal.

Tuesday 22nd September is the standout of the whole period. Morning: 3ft SW at 16 seconds, energy 544 (moderate), light onshore wind. It scores a 2/10, the highest we see. It’s marginal, but this is your best chance for a clean-ish wave. The afternoon: 3ft SW at 16 seconds, energy 556 (moderate), gentle onshore.

From Wednesday 23rd September onwards, it drops off again. The swell stays around 3ft to 2ft, periods shorten, and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore. The energy starts falling too. Nothing worth chasing.

So, if you’re desperate for a paddle, Tuesday 22nd September morning at Tippers is your best bet – small, cleanish, but don’t expect much. Otherwise, it’s a quiet couple of weeks. The reef can be fun when it’s on, but it’s just not firing right now. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye out.

Rusty.

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