Walkers Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mate. Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – it’s a tough run ahead.

Overall, the outlook is a bit of a grind. The wind is relentless from the east, smashing into the coast and turning any swell that comes through into a messy, lumpy, cross-onshore affair. We’ve got a solid 16-day window to look at, but don’t expect a classic day of surfing. The first few days are a write-off, and while the swell does build, the wind refuses to play ball. There’s a big spike in energy around the 25th, but it’s paired with the worst conditions. The only real standout, and I mean the only one, is a longer-range possibility that might clean up a bit.

Water temp at the start is 84°, which is a touch warmer than average for this time of year, so you won’t need a spring suit.

Let’s break it down from the start. We kick off on Wednesday the 19th of August, and it’s rough. The first recommendation isn’t even a recommendation – it’s just a warning. At Walkers, we’ve got a 4 ft ENE swell with a short, weak 8-second period. Combined energy is a modest 221, and the wind is a fresh cross-onshore at 19 mph. It’s lumpy, choppy, and just poor. This sets the tone for the next few days. Thursday the 20th bumps up to 6 ft ENE swell, but the wind stays strong from the east-northeast, now at 22 mph in the morning, making it lumpy and messy. The energy jumps to 450 (moderate), but it’s a waste.

This pattern hangs around for days. Friday the 21st, Saturday the 22nd, Sunday the 23rd – all cross-on, all lumpy, all poor. The swell hovers between 5 ft and 6 ft, period short at 7 seconds, and the wind is a fresh breeze from the east. The water stays warm, but that’s the only positive.

Now, the big one. Monday the 24th sees the swell peak at 8 ft from the ENE, with energy at 674 (moderate-strong), but the wind cranks up to a strong 25 mph cross-onshore from the ESE. It’s messy, dangerous, and only for the crazies. Tuesday the 25th is the biggest – a 12 ft ENE swell, with a long period of 11 seconds, and combined energy hits 2679 (very strong). That’s a serious groundswell. But here’s the catch: the wind is still a fresh cross-onshore at 19 mph, and the comment is “poor surf conditions.” That’s a lot of power, but it’s a washing machine. The long period (11 seconds) means it’s a groundswell, which at a beach break like Walkers can close out and be tough to paddle into. For experts only, and even then, it’s a brutal day.

The rest of the week into the end of August is more of the same: cross-onshore, lumpy, choppy. The swell drops to 5 ft-7 ft, but the wind never gives us a break. Crowds are possible at Walkers, but with these conditions, it’s likely empty.

Then, we get a glimmer. On Sunday the 30th of August, we see a 6 ft ENE swell with a period of 11 seconds, energy at 999 (strong), and the wind eases to a moderate 16 mph from the ESE – still cross-on, but the gentlest it’s been. The morning is clear, and the comment still says “poor surf conditions,” but the period is long, and the wind is lighter. This is the best on offer across the entire 16-day run. It’s a groundswell, so it’ll have some push, but the cross-on wind will still make it a bit lumpy. It’s not perfect, but it’s the only day where you might find a few clean-ish waves. The swell direction is ENE, which is not ideal for the optimum NE direction, but it’s close enough.

For the rest of the first week of September, it’s back to the same story: 5 ft-6 ft swell, short period, cross-on wind. Nothing to get excited about.

If you’re a kite surfer, this setup is actually interesting – strong cross-onshore winds and decent swell will be fun for you. But for paddle surfing, it’s a blank run. Walkers isn’t consistent enough to save us, and the wind just won’t let up. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a tough stretch.

Rusty.

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