West Shore Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, this is Rusty. Look, I’ve been staring at the charts for West Shore Beach and it’s a pretty lean run for the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a long gap at the start with nothing worth paddling out for until Tuesday the 11th of August, and even then, it’s barely a whisper. Let’s run through it.

We kick off on Tuesday morning, the 11th of August, with tiny 2 ft swell out of the southeast, but the real story is the wind – a light westerly breeze, 6 mph, keeping it cross-offshore and clean. The wave energy is weak (93), and the period is a solid 12 seconds, so there’s a bit of push for the size, but it’s a beginner wave at best. Tuesday afternoon turns glassy with a 2 ft SE swell and only 62 units of energy, so it’s small and slow. Water temp is about average for this time of year.

Wednesday the 12th starts glassy again with early morning northerly winds and 2 ft of short-period (8 seconds) southeast swell – energy is still low (62). The afternoon turns cross-on with an easterly breeze at 9 mph, and the swell bumps up slightly to 3 ft but it’s choppy. Not worth it.

Thursday the 13th offers a glassy start with a northeasterly breeze at 3 mph, 2 ft southeast swell, and a period of 9 seconds. Energy picks up to 113, so it’s passable for a beginner, but nothing special. The afternoon gets a 6 mph cross-on breeze and deteriorates.

Friday the 14th has a calm, glassy morning with a 3 ft swell from the east-northeast, but the period is a dismal 6 seconds – that’s short-period windswell, weak and crumbly (energy 127). The afternoon gets onshore at 9 mph and it’s messy.

Saturday the 15th is the first real spike in size, but it’s not good for surfing. The morning has 5 ft of ESE swell with a cross-on easterly at 15 mph – energy jumps to 557, but it’s choppy. The afternoon sees 7 ft from the same direction, with a cross-shore breeze at 15 mph, and energy hits 720 – the swell is too big for this break. This is kite-surfing territory with that strong wind.

Sunday the 16th morning is a standout. We get a fresh offshore wind from the south-southwest at 19 mph, pushing 6 ft of ESE swell with a 9-second period. The energy is strong at 490, and it’s clean. That’s a solid wave, but 6 ft is pushing it for beginners. If you’re experienced, this is your window – the best on offer. The afternoon gets huge – 10 ft swell, 25 mph south-southwesterly cross-offshore, and energy at 1756. Expert-only.

Monday the 17th is the other highlight. Morning has a moderate offshore wind from the southwest at 15 mph, 5 ft ESE swell, 10-second period, and 455 units of energy. The forecast says “expect good surf conditions” – clean, lined-up waves for intermediate to advanced surfers. The afternoon stays offshore but with a stronger 22 mph breeze; still clean.

After that, it drops away. Tuesday the 18th has a 3 ft swell with offshore wind, but energy is low (171). The 19th has a 3 ft swell with a lovely long 14-second period, but only 266 energy, so it’s clean but shin-high. From the 20th onward, we’re looking at 2 ft or less, with glassy conditions on the 21st and 22nd but next to no swell. On the 22nd, there’s zero wave height. The 23rd has a 2 ft SE swell – tiny. The 24th is flat. The 25th and 26th have 1.0 ft and 0.7 ft of very long-period groundswell (14 to 15 seconds), but zero energy – just ripples.

To sum it up: the best waves are Sunday the 16th morning for clean 6 ft surf, and Monday the 17th morning for 5 ft with good offshore wind. After that, it’s flat and weak through the end. Crowds at West Shore Beach are listed as “often,” so expect company on those standout days.

Rusty.

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