Tubes Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Looks like we’ve got a decent run of surf on the way, but the next few days are where the real action is. After that, things get a bit messy, with a long stretch of poor conditions before a possible late comeback.

We kick off on Sunday, August 30th, with a solid SW groundswell pushing in at Tubes, a sheltered reef and point. Swell is running 8 ft from the SW with a nice long 10-second period, and the combined energy is strong at 1336 (moderate wave energy). Morning has a cross-off breeze, so it’s rideable but not perfect. The real standout hits Sunday afternoon—wind swings offshore, swell holds at 7 ft SW, and the energy stays strong (1204). It’s clean, groomed, and begging for a session. Water temp is 59°F, which is 7°F cooler than usual—very unusual for this time of year, so bring a thick suit.

Monday August 31st keeps the fun rolling with clean 6 ft SW (985 energy) in the morning and 6 ft WSW (830) in the arvo. Light cross-off breezes keep things tidy. Tuesday September 1st is the pick of the first week. Morning offers 8 ft SW (1398), but the afternoon is the gem—8 ft SW with a 13-second period, energy jumping to 2088 (strong), and offshore wind. This is excellent for experienced surfers. Fast, powerful waves with long gaps between sets—perfect for the reef.

Now, Wednesday September 2nd sees the swell bump up to 12 ft SW (4038, strong energy), but a 9 mph cross-on breeze from the ENE messes it up. By afternoon, 10 ft SW but onshore wind at 18 mph—choppy and lumpy, not worth it. Thursday September 3rd has strong cross-off wind (22-25 mph) keeping the surface clean on 8 ft to 6 ft SW, but that breeze is so strong it’s hard to paddle into—marginal at best.

Friday September 4th is weird. We get a big 16 ft SSE swell (6243, very strong energy) with a short 11-second period and strong cross-off wind. Clean, sure, but that size is only for experts and the direction isn’t Tubes’ optimum (SSW). Saturday September 5th drops back to 7 ft ESE (1464) and 6 ft ESE (1069) with gentle cross-off wind—clean and fun, but not the standout.

Then we hit a big dry spell. From Sunday September 6th through to at least Wednesday September 10th, it’s poor. Swell drops, winds go cross-on, and it’s choppy, lumpy, or just flat. There’s a gap of about 5 days with nothing decent. By Thursday September 10th, we get glassy 2 ft SW (235), but it’s tiny—barely surfable.

Friday September 11th sees a bump in size: 4 ft SW with fresh offshore wind, but still weak (631). Saturday September 12th is back to poor cross-on wind and short-period slop. Sunday September 13th is windy and messy, with a 8 ft ESE (1106) but fresh cross-on—kite-surfing territory more than paddle.

The last chance is Monday September 14th. Glassy conditions in the morning for 6 ft SSW (998) with a long 13-second period—clean, nice shape, and easy paddling. Afternoon brings offshore wind and 5 ft SSW (876). It’s a promising but less certain finish to the window.

The true standout is Tuesday September 1st afternoon at Tubes: 8 ft SW, 13-second period, offshore wind, and strong energy. Close second is Sunday August 30th afternoon. The rest is either too big with wrong wind, too small, or too messy.

Rusty.

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