Tuncurry-North Wall Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here.

Well, I’m gonna level with ya – we’re looking at a pretty miserable stretch at Tuncurry-North Wall for the next couple weeks. This is one of those spells where you’re better off leaving the board in the shed. There’s hardly any proper swell, and what does show up is weak and sloppy. The first even half-decent bump doesn’t roll in until Sunday the 30th of August, and even then it’s nothing to write home about.

Let’s break it down.

Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th of August are total washouts. Tiny 2 ft to 2 ft ENE windswell with junk conditions and barely any energy (37 to 68 combined). Winds are light but the waves just aren’t there – don’t bother.

Sunday the 30th of August shows a little life. The morning brings a 3 ft SE swell with a 10-second period and moderate energy (162). It’s clean with a cross-off breeze, but the wave quality is still ordinary – not what you’d call a good day out. By afternoon, it drops to 1 ft and 24 energy. No standout.

From Monday the 31st of August through to Thursday the 3rd of September, it’s the same sad story: tiny surf, mostly 1 ft to 2 ft, and poor conditions every session. Winds chop and change, but the energy is pitiful – mostly 20 to 60 on the combined scale. Thursday arvo (3rd September) sees a 3 ft NNE windswell with a 5-second period kick up some energy (101), but that period’s way too short for any real shape, and the quality’s still poor.

Friday the 4th of September into the weekend continues the grind. Mornings have 3 ft NNE swell at 6 seconds, combined energy around 102 – still weak – and it stays mostly poor. Saturday the 5th is glassy but only 1 ft with 10 energy.

Monday the 7th of September onward gets even worse – literally zero swell on Tuesday the 8th, and what follows is tiny, choppy, onshore dribble. Thursday the 10th of September has a 5 ft NE swell (5-second period) with 144 combined energy, but it’s windswell with rain showers and onshore winds – not worth it. By Saturday the 12th of September, it’s a glassy 2 ft NE windswell at 6 seconds, still only 40 energy – flat and forgettable.

So what’s the best option? Honestly, there’s no real highlight. The closest we get to something surfable is Sunday morning, the 30th of August – that 3 ft SE swell at 10 seconds with clean cross-off winds is the pick of the bunch. But it’s still weak energy (162) and only for beginners or someone really keen. Water temp is about 66°, right on average for the time of year – no surprises.

For the rest, it’s flat spells, short-period windswell, and poor quality. This break is a beach and breakwater setup, so with these tiny, weak swells and often onshore or cross-shore winds, it’s more suited to kiteboarding than paddling – not worth hauling your stick out for.

Hang in there – it’s a long dry run.

- Rusty

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