Tourmaline Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the surf is pretty flat and the conditions are not great for a spell. You’re looking at a stretch of poor to marginal surf for the first week or so. The good news is there’s a pulse of proper swell coming in the second week, but we’ve got to be patient for it.

For the first few days, starting Sunday the 23rd through the end of August, the waves are small, mostly between 2 ft and 4 ft, and the wind is nearly always a problem. That cross-onshore wind from the WNW and WSW is messing things up, making it choppy and messy. The energy is weak to moderate (readings between 328 and 643). Not much to get excited about, honestly. There’s a small window on Monday morning the 24th with a light onshore wind, but the swell is only 2 ft from the SW with a period of 18 seconds – that’s a long period for such a tiny wave, so it’ll be weak and slow.

The only break we’ve got to look at is Tourmaline (reef). The water temp is 72°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The swell is coming from the SW, which is the optimum direction for this spot. But the crowds are *often* a problem here, and with the conditions being so poor, the lineup might still be busy for what little there is.

The real standout is in the second week, around the 4th and 5th of September. We finally see a bigger swell filling in. Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th have surf pushing 4 ft to 4 ft from the SW, with a period of 16-17 seconds – that’s a nice groundswell. The energy jumps up to strong range (1053-1252). The winds are light and variable, mostly onshore or light cross-onshore, which is about as good as it gets around here. The surf will be a bit bigger and cleaner, but the period is long enough that at a beach break it might be a bit straight, so keep that in mind. This is the best patch on offer.

After that, the swell keeps coming through the 6th and 7th of September, with waves up to 6 ft, but the wind swings onshore from the WSW at 12-13 mph, bringing back the chop. That size is getting into the “too big for beginners” range, and with the wind, it’s only for the experienced crew.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a write-off for good waves. The best bet is Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th of September at Tourmaline. The swell is solid, the direction is right, and the winds are light. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best we’ve got. Don’t expect much before that.

Rusty.

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