Whale Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Imperial

Alright mate, let’s be straight with you. Whale Rock is the only game in town for this forecast, and it’s a bit of a tricky one. It’s an advanced reef break, and it’s inconsistent, so it takes a special set of conditions to really fire. The water’s sitting at 71°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you won’t need the thickest wetsuit out there.

We start the week on Monday, August 3rd, with a pulse of 7ft swell from the ESE, but it’s coming with a cross-onshore wind. The combined energy is moderate (1174), but the wind is putting a bit of chop on it, so it’s not the cleanest. The afternoon drops off to 6ft, and the wind picks up, making it choppier. Not the best way to kick things off.

Tuesday, August 4th, is more of the same, with the swell dropping to 5ft and then 5ft. The wind stays onshore all day, so it’s going to be messy. Not worth paddling out for.

Wednesday, August 5th, the swell drops right down to 3ft and 4ft. The wind goes cross-shore, but it’s weak. The energy is low (around 204-322), so you’re looking at weak, small waves. This is one to skip.

Thursday, August 6th, we get a shift. A new long-period groundswell from the SSW arrives, but it’s tiny – only 3ft and 2ft. The period is 16 seconds, which is very long, so it’ll have plenty of energy for its size (581 combined energy in the morning), but it’s breaking straight on a reef. The wind is cross-shore, but it’s a moderate breeze. It’s a tough call for a wave that small.

Friday, August 7th, is a write-off. Showers move in, the swell stays small, and the wind is onshore. The combined energy is low (425). Not worth your time.

Saturday, August 8th, the swell picks up slightly to 3ft from the SSW, with a long period of 16 seconds. The wind is a moderate cross-shore, so it’s not clean. The energy is moderate (692), but it’s still small and choppy.

Sunday, August 9th, is probably the best of a bad bunch. The morning’s got a 3ft SSW swell with a 15-second period. The wind goes cross-offshore, and the conditions are described as clean. That’s your window. The combined energy is 406, so it’s not powerful, but if you’re an advanced surfer who knows the reef, you might get a couple of clean ones. Afternoon the wind swings and gets messy.

Now, here’s the big one. Monday, August 10th, a pulse of 8ft swell from the S hits, but it’s a short-period wind swell (9 seconds) with a fresh cross-onshore wind. The combined energy jumps to 1351, which is strong, but the conditions are lumpy and poor. This is going to be a washing machine. Honestly, for a reef break, this looks more like a kite-surfing day than a paddle-surfing day.

Tuesday, August 11th, the swell drops back to 4ft, but it’s a proper long-period groundswell (14 seconds). The wind is onshore again, though, so it’s choppy. The energy is moderate (1053), but the wind ruins it.

Wednesday, August 12th, is a tease. The swell is tiny (3ft and 2ft), but the wind goes glassy in the morning and then glassy again in the afternoon. The combined energy is very low (186 and 111). You’ll be scratching for waves, but if you’re desperate, it’s the cleanest it will be all week.

From Thursday, August 13th, through to Tuesday, August 18th, it’s a long, dry spell. The swell drops to 1.0ft and 1ft, and the wind is either onshore or cross-shore. The combined energy is below 300 for most of it. It’s a proper blank run. There’s a small pulse on Saturday, August 15th, with a 4ft, 16-second SSW swell, but the wind goes onshore in the afternoon, and the morning is cross-shore. It’s marginal at best.

So, the standout? Honestly, there’s no true standout. The closest you’ll get to a decent session is Sunday morning, August 9th, at Whale Rock. That 3ft SSW groundswell with the cross-offshore wind giving clean conditions is your best bet. It’s small, it’s inconsistent, and it’s only for advanced crew, but it’s the only time the stars align.

For the rest, it’s a waiting game. The long-range stuff on August 15th is promising but uncertain – don’t book your whole week around it.

Rusty.

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