Westport-The Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty, and I’ve been watching this stretch of coast like a hawk. Let’s be straight with you: the next week and a half is a bit of a flat, choppy mess at Westport-The Cove (beach/jetty). The good news is that there’s a proper pulse coming in the second week—it’s just a matter of waiting it out. The water temp is sitting at 61°, which is a touch above normal for this time of year, so it’s a little warmer than you’d expect.

Right now, from Saturday 8 August through to about Wednesday 12 August, it’s pretty grim. Swell is tiny—1 ft to 3 ft—with short, weak periods (6 to 18 seconds). The wind is cross-onshore most of the time, from the WNW and NW, blowing 9 to 16 mph, so the surface is chopped up and messy. Combined energy is moderate, ranging from 139 to 374, but it’s all poor surf conditions. Not worth paddling out for.

Thursday 13 August morning shows a brief flicker. The wind switches to a light SSW breeze at 3 mph, blowing cross-offshore, and the water cleans up nicely. Swell is still small at 4 ft from the WNW, but the period is short (7 seconds), so it’s not going to have much punch. Combined energy is moderate at 277. The forecast calls it “expect good surf conditions,” but it’s really only a small window before the cross-on wind returns in the afternoon. Friday 14 August morning is clean again with a light SW cross-off at 6 mph, but the swell is a paltry 1 ft from the SW, period 16 seconds. It’s surfable but very ordinary.

Then there’s a gap. From Saturday 15 August through to Monday 17 August, it’s back to small, choppy, cross-onshore slop—2 ft to 3 ft, moderate energy, but poor conditions. Not worth getting wet.

Now, here’s the standout. Tuesday 18 August morning is the real deal. The swell jumps to 6 ft from the west, with a period of 13 seconds—proper groundswell. Combined energy surges to 1147, which is strong. The wind is offshore at 12 mph from the SSW, so the waves will be clean and peeling. The afternoon stays solid, with 5 ft from the west, period 13 seconds, energy 1142, and a light SW cross-off breeze at 6 mph. This is expert territory—the swell is over 5 ft, so it’s not for beginners, but for anyone who knows what they’re doing, this is the best on offer in the whole 16-day window. The swell direction from the west is a good match for the optimum WSW direction, and the break is fairly exposed. It’s a beach/jetty setup, but with that long period, the waves should have good shape. Expect crowds possible, as it’s sometimes busy.

Wednesday 19 August is still very good, but a step down. Swell drops to 4 ft from the west, period 11 seconds, energy 529. The wind is light cross-offshore from the SE in the morning, turning SW in the afternoon. Clean conditions, good surf, but not the same grunt as Tuesday.

Thursday 20 August morning has a bit of size—5 ft from the SSW—but the period is short (7 seconds), so it’ll be a bit bumpy and less organised. The wind is cross-offshore from the SW at 9 mph, so it’s clean, but the energy is moderate at 440. It’s marginal. After that, from Friday 21 August onward, the swell fades back to 1 ft to 3 ft, with cross-onshore winds returning. The run ends on a flat note.

So, the call: if you can wait, Tuesday 18 August is the day. Don’t bother with the first week—it’s a write-off. Keep an eye on the forecast, but for now, that Tuesday morning is the one to lock in.

Rusty.

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