Toquay Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break down what’s on the cards for Toquay Reef.

The early part of the run is a bit of a mixed bag. Friday morning, August 7, is the best of the bunch to start. Skies are clear, with a light offshore breeze from the WNW at 6 mph, and a solid 4ft SW groundswell with a long 16-second period. The water is 56°F, pretty much normal for this time of year. The combined energy is moderate (576). That’s a clean, lined-up reef wave for an intermediate surfer. Crowds can show up sometimes, but the conditions will make it worth it.

Friday afternoon stays clean, with a little cross-off wind. The swell is 3ft with a 15-second period, still glassy. Good for a late session.

Saturday, August 8, is a letdown. The swell holds at 3ft, but the wind picks up from the north and goes cross-off, making things a bit messy. Energy drops. It’s marginal.

Sunday, August 9, is a washout. Strong northerly winds at 22 mph, and the swell drops to under 2ft. The energy is weak (205). Not worth paddling out.

Then we get a spike. Monday, August 10, sees a big jump in energy, with the combined energy at 1143 in the morning and 1595 in the afternoon. The swell is 4ft, but the wind is howling from the WSW at 19 mph, making for choppy, sloppy conditions. It’s a pass for surfing – but if you’re into kiting, this setup might look interesting.

Tuesday morning, August 11, is where it gets good. The wind swings around to the NNW at 12 mph, going offshore. We’ve got a 4ft SW swell with a 15-second period, and the combined energy is strong (1213). The report says it’s excellent for experienced surfers. The reef should be firing. This is the standout of the first week.

Wednesday morning, August 12, has a similar setup with a 4ft, 17-second period swell and a fresh offshore from the NNW at 19 mph. The energy is solid (824). Clean, punchy waves. The afternoon turns to rain and stronger wind, so get out early.

Now, for the experts. Thursday, August 13, brings a big one. The morning sees a 12ft SW swell with a 16-second period – that’s over 8ft, so it’s for experienced surfers only. The combined energy is massive (7687). The wind is cross-off from the WNW at 16 mph, so it’s clean but powerful. This is the second standout, but only for those with the skills.

Friday, August 14, drops a bit, with a 5ft swell in the morning and a 7ft in the afternoon. The wind stays cross-off, and the energy is still strong (2802 in the afternoon). Good, solid reef waves.

The second week is more of a mixed bag. Saturday, August 15, goes onshore from the SSE and SE, ruining the shape. The swell is around 6-6ft, but the wind is wrong. By Sunday, August 16, it’s cross-on from the east, with small wind ripples. Not great.

Monday, August 17, looks better again. A 3ft SW swell with a 15-second period, and a light offshore from the WNW at 6 mph. The energy is moderate (421). Clean conditions, fun waves.

The rest of the week is small, with swell dropping to 2-3ft on Tuesday and Wednesday, though the wind is offshore or light. The energy is weak. The best call in the second week is probably Wednesday morning, August 19, with a 4ft, 16-second period swell and a gentle offshore from the NNW at 9 mph. Clean, but not pumping.

Thursday, August 20, sees a jump in the afternoon with a 5ft WSW swell and strong energy (2201), but the wind is cross-off from the NNE at 16 mph. It’s a bit messy, but for the brave, there might be a few.

After that, it fades out. Friday, August 21, has a clean 4ft morning, but the wind goes onshore in the afternoon. Saturday, August 22, is cross-on and rainy.

So, bottom line: if you’re an intermediate, get out on Friday morning, August 7, and Tuesday morning, August 11. If you’re an expert, Thursday morning, August 13, is the big one. The second week is quieter, but Wednesday morning, August 19, offers a clean little window.

Rusty.

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