Whites Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's coming down the pipe for the next couple of weeks.

Alright, we’re looking at a bit of a slow start overall, but there are a couple of windows that’ll get the heart pumping. The first decent chance to get wet doesn't really show up until later in the first week. For the first few days, the wind is just a mess—cross-onshore and making things choppy, even when there's some size around. You’ll want to hold out.

The standout period is actually building up from Friday, the 11th of September. The wind finally plays ball, turning light and clean. On Friday morning, the waves are clean, with a 4ft southwest swell coming in at a nice long 14 seconds. The water temp is sitting at 58°, which is pretty average for this time of year.

I’m looking hard at Friday the 11th as the pick of the early period, with another good shot on Wednesday the 16th. Both mornings offer clean conditions, and the swell is just big enough to be fun. They are by no means huge, but the quality will be there.

There is a serious pulse of energy due around the 20th and 21st of September, with some substantial southwest swells in the 6ft to 8ft range. The combined energy readings are massive—over 2400 on the 20th afternoon, for example. That's a lot of power in the water, and the period is long, so it'll have some serious push. However, it comes with a massive caveat: the wind is going to be cranking from the WNW, cross-onshore and messy. At that size and with that wind, this reef break could look more like a washing machine. This late in the forecast, it’s a promising setup, but we’ll have to keep an eye on the wind.

Whites Reef itself is a fairly consistent spot, but it sits exposed to the swell and needs that offshore or clean wind to really shine. It's got intermediate difficulty, but with the swell over 5ft, it gets more serious. For the Friday and Wednesday mornings, with clean conditions and a manageable size, that’s where you want to be. Crowds are often a thing here, so expect company on the good days.

Here’s the breakdown day by day:

- September 8: Forget it. Cross-onshore wind, choppy, poor conditions all day. A solid miss.
- September 9: Swell jumps up to 7ft, but it's blown out. Way too much wind for any quality.
- September 10: Swell still solid at 7ft, but the wind is still cross-onshore. Still rough.
- September 11: Best early call. Friday morning is clean with a 4ft southwest swell and a 14-second period. Light cross-offshore wind and clean faces. This is the window. Afternoon holds up nicely too.
- September 12: Dropping off. Wind is lighter but a bit cross, making for smaller, less ideal waves. Fun for a longboard but not a standout.
- September 13: The swell crashes down to under 3ft and the wind picks up. Not your day.
- September 14: Wind is howling from the NW at 18 mph, gusting harder. Tiny swell. A complete write-off. You’re better off staying home.
- September 15: A little bump back up to 4ft, but the wind is light cross-onshore. Only a marginal option.
- September 16: Another good call. Wednesday morning is looking clean again with a 4ft swell and light cross-offshore wind. The afternoon is similar but with a bit more size (4ft) and still clean. Very good conditions for a chilled session.
- September 17: Thursday morning is clean and 4ft. The afternoon is the real treat though: glassy conditions and a clean 3ft swell. That’s as good as it gets for a small wave session.
- September 18-19: The wind comes back with a vengeance. Fresh to strong breezes, messy, and onshore. No go.
- September 20: Big swell arrives (up to 8ft), but it’s a complete wind mess. Strong cross-onshore winds. The power is there (combined energy over 2400), but for surfing? Brutal. This might be more for the kite crew.
- September 21: The swell hangs in around 7ft, and the wind drops a bit, but it’s still onshore. The afternoon is cleaner but onshore. It’s a marginal call at best, and that big energy (2296) is gonna be hard to enjoy.
- September 22: The swell is dropping fast but still a respectable 5ft. Morning is clean with a stiff offshore, but the afternoon reverts to a fresh cross-onshore mess. A one-session window in the morning.
- September 23: By now, the swell is gone. Under 3ft and onshore wind. We’re done.

Alright, so to put it simply: Friday the 11th and Wednesday the 16th are your best bets for clean, fun waves without getting blown off the water. The big swell around the 20th is more of a promise than a sure thing right now, given the wind forecast.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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