Tubes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Howdy, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s headed to Tubes. We’ve got a solid block of surf on the way, one that’s going to get the heart rate up.

It kicks off on Sunday the 16th of August with a clean 5ft SW swell, period around 12 to 13 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, perfect for a reef and point setup. The combined energy is moderate at 854, and the water is a chilly 53°, an incredible 13° colder than usual for the time of year – that’s very unusual, so you’ll want a thick suit. Winds are offshore and cross-off, keeping the lines tidy.

Monday the 17th sees the swell build to 7ft to 8ft from the SW, period holding strong at 13-14 seconds, and the energy jumps into the strong range at 1788. Winds stay light and cross-off. This is proper quality surf, pushing into more serious territory.

By Tuesday the 18th, it’s on. Swell hits 8ft Tuesday afternoon with a massive combined energy of 2305 – that’s big, powerful surf and excellent for experienced surfers. Wednesday the 19th morning is a real standout: 10ft SW swell, 13-second period, and glassy conditions with a slight air. That’s a magic window for experts. The afternoon gets a 30 km/h offshore, still workable but more raw.

Thursday the 20th morning is another killer: 10ft clean with offshore wind and energy of 3543. That’s very strong power. The afternoon turns cross-shore with an 12ft swell, making it a bit scrappy.

Friday the 21st eases to a very clean 7ft to 8ft with light offshore winds – a great session for those who want the solid stuff without the absolute peak.

We’ve got a bit of a flat spot on Saturday the 22nd – windy, messy conditions with poor surf on a 5ft disorganised swell. Then Sunday the 23rd brings the power back with a clean 10ft swell and moderate offshore winds. Monday the 24th is still big at 10ft, but cross-onshore winds chop it up.

The absolute highlight is Wednesday the 26th of August. Early morning, we get an 12ft SSW groundswell with a very long 17-second period and completely glassy conditions. The combined energy is a monstrous 6584. That is an extraordinary setup – long period, big size, and dead calm. This is for expert surfers only; the power will be immense, but the shape should be world-class. After that, Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th stay solid with clean to offshore conditions in the 7ft to 8ft range.

The end of August sees another pulse of 10ft to 13ft swell, but strong winds on the 31st (40 km/h) will make the 13ft swell a handful best left to the pros.

Bottom line: the morning of Wednesday the 26th of August is the standout. The combination of very long period, glassy conditions, and that incredible energy is about as good as it gets. The Tuesday the 18th afternoon and Thursday the 20th morning are also top-tier sessions. Tubes is a consistent reef and point, so it handles this long-period swell beautifully. Crowds are possible here, so plan accordingly. For the big days, this is expert territory.

Rusty.

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