Walcott Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Honestly, I’m looking at this run and it’s a tough one. We’ve got a solid 16-day window ahead, but the surf is barely a whisper for the vast majority of it. There’s a long dry spell from now, right through until the end of August, with nothing but tiny, weak waves and poor conditions. The whole first week is a write-off, with swell heights barely cracking 2 ft and most of the time the wind is cross-on or onshore, chopping up whatever tiny bump there is. The combined wave energy sits pathetically low, often in the single digits or teens. We finally get a bit of a pulse on the 21st of August, with the swell kicking up to 4 ft, but it’s a messy, short-period 8 second wind swell from the north, with a nasty 12 mph cross-on wind making it choppy and unappealing. That’s not a surf session, that’s a washing machine. The energy hits 173 (moderate) but it’s all for nothing with that wind.

The real frustration is that even when the swell does show a little bit of life, like on the 29th of August with a 3 ft north-northeast swell and the energy creeping up to 101 (moderate), the wind is still a fresh cross-onshore at 15 to 19 mph, ruining the surface. It’s just not worth paddling out for.

The only glimmer of hope, and I mean a tiny glimmer, comes right at the tail end of the forecast. From the 30th of August through to the 2nd of September, the wind finally swings around to a cross-offshore direction – from the south and west-southwest. The swell is still disappointing, sitting between 1 ft and 2 ft with a short period, so it’s not going to be a world-class day. But look, clean, cross-off conditions on a 2 ft wave is infinitely better than a choppy 4 ft mess. The water temperature has been running much warmer than normal for the time of year, sitting at 67°, which is a nice bonus for the skin.

So, if you’re desperate for a paddle and a bit of a glide, the best bet is the morning of the 30th of August or the 2nd of September. The swell is north-northeast at 2 ft, the wind is light, and the surface will be clean. It’s not a standout, but it’s the only surfable option on offer.

Rusty.

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