Wategos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

First off, I gotta be straight with you – the next few days are looking pretty grim. The first recommendation doesn’t even pop up until Saturday the 8th, and even then, it’s nothing to write home about. We’ve got a bit of a gap before anything worth bothering with shows up.

Saturday 8th August is the first chance to get wet, but don’t get your hopes up. We’re looking at a small 3 ft to 4 ft swell from the east. The wind on Saturday morning is a cross-offshore from the SSW, which will keep things clean. The combined energy is moderate (114), but the waves are just "surfable" – average at best. Afternoon sees the swell pick up a fraction to 4 ft, but it’s still from the east with a cross-offshore. It’s a session for the keen, not the stoked.

Sunday 9th is a write-off. Strong onshore winds from the north will ruin any chance of quality. The swell is still 4 ft, but it’s a mess. Don’t bother.

Monday 10th is worse. A 6 ft north swell shows up, but it’s blown out by strong onshore winds. The period is a short 6 seconds, so it’s a lumpy, ugly thing. The combined energy jumps to 356 (moderate), but it’s a kite-surfing day, not a paddle one.

Tuesday 11th is a little tease. The swell drops back to 2 ft from the east, but the morning is glassy. Absolutely glassy. That’s a major positive. The combined energy is weak (105), but if you’re desperate for a clean, small wave, you might get a few fun ones. The afternoon gets choppy, so get in early.

From Wednesday 12th through to Saturday 16th, it’s tiny. Swell stays under 2 ft, and the energy is weak (between 29 and 58). The wind is offshore or cross-offshore most of the time, which is clean, but there’s just no wave. It’s a flat spell, plain and simple.

Now, if you’ve got patience, there’s a glimmer of hope. On Monday 17th August, the swell picks up a bit to 3 ft from the SE with a short 7-second period. The winds are offshore, keeping it clean. The energy is moderate (136). Still just "surfable" conditions, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Tuesday 18th brings a similar story: 4 ft from the SE with a short 6-second period. Offshore winds, moderate energy (159). Again, surfable, but nothing special.

The real standout, the one that caught my eye, is Thursday 20th August. The swell jumps to 6 ft from the SE, with an 8-second period. The combined energy is strong in the morning (470) and very strong in the afternoon (670). That’s a lot of juice. The winds are cross-offshore, so it should be clean. This is the best of the bunch. However, at 6 ft, it’s getting a bit big for beginners, and the short period might make it a bit walled-off at Wategos. It’s a point break, so it should handle it better than a beach, but keep your wits about you. The energy is high, so there will be some punch.

Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd taper off again, back to small, clean conditions with the swell dropping to 2 ft to 3 ft. The wind is good, offshore or cross-offshore, but the energy is weak.

So, the long and short of it: the first week is a bust. The second week has a few "surfable" days, but Thursday 20th August is your best bet – biggest swell, highest energy, and clean winds. It’s a promise, but it’s still a week and a half away, so keep an eye on it.

The water temp is sitting at about 68°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year. Nothing unusual there.

Rusty.

Read more