Whites Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks.

Look, to be honest, the start of this run is a bit of a slow burn. The first few days are more about waiting than riding, with the wind and swell not quite lining up. But if you’re patient, there’s a sweet little window that opens up, and a couple of sessions that are genuinely worth circling on the calendar.

Whites Reef is the only game in town, and it’s a reef break that’s fairly consistent. It’s exposed to swell, but it really wants the swell from the west to get the best out of it. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The whole Monday the 24th is a bit of a write-off. The swell is tiny at 2.6 ft from the southwest, and the combined energy is weak (296). The winds are cross-off, but there just isn’t enough juice to make it worthwhile. The score is low, and I’d say give it a miss.

Tuesday the 25th sees a little more push, with the swell hitting 3.6 ft from the southwest, and the energy picking up to a moderate 489. But the wind swings onshore and gets choppy in the afternoon, so it’s messy. The morning is a bit better, but still cross-shore and bumpy. Not your day.

Wednesday the 26th through to Thursday the 28th morning is a frustrating stretch. The swell hangs around 2.0 ft to 3.3 ft, but the wind is either onshore or cross-onshore, making a mess of the surface. The energy drops right off (200-289). It’s a no-go zone.

Friday the 28th is the first real standout. The morning starts with a nice 4.3 ft west-southwest swell, a period of 17 seconds – that’s proper groundswell, folks. The combined energy jumps to a strong 979. The wind is cross-off, keeping the surface clean. It’s a fantastic morning for a reef break, as that long period will wrap in nicely. The afternoon is even better, with the swell settling to 3.6 ft from the southwest, a 16-second period, and the energy still strong at 589. The wind goes light and cross-off, making for clean, glassy lines. This is the session to aim for. Crowds are often here, so get there early.

Saturday the 29th is a letdown after that. The swell drops back to 3.0 ft, the period shortens, and the wind goes cross-onshore in the afternoon. Energy is weak (301). Not worth the paddle.

Sunday the 30th is your second standout. It’s a cracker. Morning has a 2.6 ft south-southwest swell with a 16-second period, but the wind is light cross-off from the east-southeast. The real magic is the afternoon: 3.9 ft from the southwest, 16 seconds, and the combined energy is a solid 720. The wind is light and cross-off, creating clean, long walls. The crowd factor is something to consider, but the quality here is undeniable.

Monday the 31st is a bit of a mixed bag. The swell is still there at 3.9-4.3 ft, but the wind goes onshore, putting a bit of a wrinkle on the face. The energy is still there (683-920), but the conditions aren’t as clean as the weekend.

Tuesday the 1st of September morning is a hidden gem. The swell is 3.6 ft from the southwest, 15-second period, and the wind is *glass*. Completely flat, no wind. The energy is moderate at 527. It’s a rare, clean window. If you can get out, it’ll be worth it.

From Wednesday the 2nd of September, the forecast gets a bit wild. The swell picks up, but so does the wind. We’re looking at 3.9 ft to 5.2 ft, with onshore and cross-onshore winds creating a chop. The energy is moderate to strong (479-1401), but the quality is poor. This setup is more appealing for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, as the wind and chop will be messy.

The second week from the 5th of September onward sees a bigger swell, but it’s all onshore wind. The 5th and 6th have 4.6 ft to 5.2 ft from the southwest, with strong energy (886-1401), but the wind is moderate to strong, making it choppy. The 7th of September pushes the swell to 6.6 ft, and the energy is very strong (1908), but the wind is cross-onshore and messy. Over 8.2 ft, it’s for experts only, but here the wind ruins it. The 8th of September has a 6.2 ft swell, but the wind is onshore.

So, to wrap it up: Friday the 28th of August afternoon is the absolute best on offer, with a clean, 3.6 ft, 16-second groundswell and light cross-off winds. Sunday the 30th of August afternoon is a very close second, with similar conditions. The first week is a slow start, but those two days are pure gold. The second week is a washout for clean surfing.

Stay safe, and I’ll see

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