Whipsiderry Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at the charts for the next couple of weeks down at Whipsiderry.

To be straight with you, this is a grim stretch for the paddle crew. We’re looking at a long, barren run of poor surf for the better part of ten days. From the 17th through the 27th, there is honestly nothing worth getting wet for. The swell is small, mostly under 5ft, and the wind is all over the shop, mostly cross-onshore and choppy. You’ll see the energy in the water is weak, down around 106 to 150 on Monday and Tuesday, building a touch to 182 and 222 by Wednesday, but it’s messy, lumpy junk.

We finally see a pulse of proper energy arrive on Thursday the 20th, with the combined energy jumping to 422 and then 526, and the swell bumps up to 5ft to 6ft from the WNW. The period is still short though, only 7 to 9 seconds, so it’s not going to have any push behind it. And it’s still marked as poor. So, while it’s bigger, I wouldn’t get too excited.

There’s a slight lull again on Friday and Saturday the 22nd and 23rd, with the swell dropping to 2ft on Saturday. That Saturday afternoon, the wind does swing cross-off and it cleans up, but there’s just no wave to ride. It’s a skunk.

Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th are a write-off with fresh cross-onshore winds and tiny swell. Tuesday the 25th morning is glassy with a slight air, but the swell has bottomed out at 2ft from the north with a 5-second period. It’s a mill pond.

We finally get a bit of life in the water on Wednesday the 26th. The morning has a cross-off wind with 3ft of WNW swell, but it’s still only 9 seconds and frankly, weak. The afternoon sees the swell pick up to 4ft, but the wind swings cross-on and chops it all up.

Then we get to the one real highlight of this whole forecast. On Friday the 28th, we see a proper groundswell start to fill in. The energy jumps to 908 in the morning with a 7ft swell at 10 seconds, and even with a cross-shore wind, it’s looking the best of a poor bunch. The afternoon eases to 6ft but the period stays at 10 seconds. This is the standout. It’s going to be a bit lumpy with the cross-shore, but there will be waves.

Saturday the 29th sees the swell drop slightly to 6ft but the period climbs to a nice 11 seconds. The problem is the wind, it’s cross-onshore and blows hard in the afternoon, making it lumpy. Sunday the 30th is smaller again, around 3-4ft.

Now, for the final act. On Monday the 31st of August, the energy is huge, jumping to 2125, and the swell is 8ft from the west at 11 seconds. This is a big, powerful swell, but it’s cross-onshore and lumpy. The afternoon sees it build to a solid 10ft at 13 seconds, with the energy hitting 3178. This is serious, big-wave territory. This is only for the experts. The period is long, over 15 seconds is not quite here, but 13 seconds is pushing it.

That Tuesday, the 1st of September, it gets even more interesting. The swell is still 8ft but the period is up to 13 seconds, but the wind is a screaming near gale from the south at 31-34 mph. It’s going to be a washing machine onshore. The morning is cross-off and clean, but with that wind, it’s going to be howling. This is kite-surfing territory, not really a paddle session for the faint-hearted.

So, to wrap it up. The best on offer is that Friday the 28th, with the building swell. It’s not perfect, but it’s the most rideable. The big stuff on the 31st and 1st is more of a spectacle than anything else. Keep an eye on it, but I wouldn’t be planning any dawn patrols until the 28th.

That’s it from me. Keep the rubber-side down.

Rusty.

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