Tubes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on offer. The next few weeks at Tubes are a real mixed bag, but there are some absolute gems hiding in there if you’re willing to wait.

We kick off on Thursday, September 10th with a solid pulse of groundswell. Thursday morning sees a clean 3ft SSW swell with a very long 17-second period. The wind is offshore from the WSW, so the lineup is going to be clean and organised. The combined energy is moderate (960). It’s a lovely start, but the real action is Thursday afternoon. The swell jumps to 7ft from the SW, period still a long 16 seconds, and the offshore wind holds. The energy cranks up to strong (2017). This is proper surf, but at that size, it’s for the experienced crew only. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Friday morning, September 11th, is still decent. The swell drops a touch to 6ft from the SW, period 13 seconds, with a light cross-offshore breeze from the SE keeping things clean. The energy is still strong (1211). It’s a good option, but the wind shifts in the afternoon to a moderate cross-onshore, and the quality drops right out. That’s pretty much it for the first week, mate. Saturday through to Monday are dominated by cross-onshore winds and choppy, lumpy conditions. The swell sticks around, but the wind ruins it. There’s a window on Monday afternoon with a clean cross-offshore breeze, but the swell is only 4ft and the energy is weak (437), so it’s only marginal.

The next real standout doesn’t show up until Wednesday, September 16th. The morning brings a clean 7ft SW swell, with a very long 16-second period, and a fresh offshore wind from the SW. The energy is very strong (3731). The wind is fresh, so it’ll be a bit bumpy on the surface, but still clean. The afternoon is even better, with 7ft of SW swell and a moderate offshore wind, energy still very strong (3430). This is a solid day for the experienced surfer.

But the absolute best of the whole forecast window is Thursday, September 17th. Get this: an 8ft SSW swell, 13-second period, with glassy conditions. The wind is virtually nothing from the SSE, and the energy is strong (1815). It’s a brief, perfect window. The crowd situation at Tubes can be “sometimes” busy, so get out early on that Thursday morning – it’s going to be a session to remember.

After that, the wind turns ugly again until Saturday, September 19th. That Saturday afternoon is another cracker: 8ft of SW swell, 15-second period, with a moderate offshore wind from the WSW. The energy is very strong (2553). It’s excellent for experienced surfers, but it’s not as clean as the Thursday session.

There’s a long gap of poor conditions until Monday, September 21st. And that Monday morning is the real wildcard. It’s a standout: 12ft of SSW swell, 15-second period, and the wind is glassy. Absolutely glassy. The combined energy is extreme (7384). This is a monster session for experts only. The swell is massive, but with that period and that wind, Tubes will be firing. If you are not an expert, stay well clear. The afternoon stays good with a 10ft SSW swell and a moderate offshore wind, but the morning is the magic hour.

The final week pretty much falls apart, with strong onshore winds and messy, lumpy conditions. A few marginal windows appear, but nothing worth getting excited about. The run from September 22nd onwards is a write-off.

So, the clear standouts are the Thursday morning, September 17th, for the glassy conditions and solid swell, and the Monday morning, September 21st, for the sheer power and size, but only for the brave. Saturday afternoon, September 19th, is a solid backup.

Rusty.

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