Whites Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.34° S 141.39° E

Whites Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 20 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Whites Reef sea temperature is
14.6° C
1.0° 

Whites Reef surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s period, WSW swell with 1,527 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whites Reef this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Whites Reef in the next 16 days are 1.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 1AM (Sat 22nd Aug)6ft (1.8m) 16s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whites Reef over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let's dig into what we've got in the water for the next couple of weeks. It's a slow start, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

Right off the bat, Thursday the 20th, it's ugly. A 3ft west swell is there, but that WNW wind is blowing at 15 mph, cross-onshore, just tearing the surface to bits. Total write-off. The water's at 58°, which is about a degree warmer than average for this time of year – nothing special.

Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd, the swell builds, hitting 4ft to 5ft from the WSW and SW, with a solid groundswell period of 14-15 seconds. But that wind just won't let up, staying cross-on or straight onshore and gusty. The combined energy is high, hitting 1110 on Saturday morning, which is powerful, but with that wind, it's just messy, choppy slop. The surf quality is poor. Honestly, this looks more like a kite-surfing session than a day for a paddle.

By Sunday the 23rd, the swell drops a bit to 4ft, and the wind eases to a 9 mph cross-shore from the NW. It's still a little messy, but the period is a nice 16 seconds. You might find a couple of clean ones if you're patient, but it's only marginal at best.

We then run into a dry spell. From Monday the 24th right through to Saturday the 29th, it's a real grind. The swell hangs between 2ft and 5ft, but the wind is just stubborn – cross-on, onshore, or just enough to keep it lumpy. The energy drops off through the week. Sunday the 30th morning is totally flat, with only 1ft and a clean offshore breeze from the ENE. Clean, but there's nothing to ride.

Now, here's the good news. Sunday afternoon, the 30th of August, the whole picture flips. That ENE wind shifts to a light cross-offshore from the ESE at 9 mph. The swell jumps to 5ft from the west, with a 10-second period. The energy bumps up to 556 (moderate). The call is for very good surf conditions – this is the clear standout of the whole forecast. Clean, glassy lines. This is the session you want to be there for.

The first week of September keeps the clean conditions going, with cross-offshore winds from the north or light airs. The morning of Monday the 31st and Tuesday the 1st are smaller, with 1ft to 2ft swells, but still clean. Tuesday afternoon (1st Sept) looks promising with a 2ft SW groundswell, 16-second period, and light offshore wind – good surf conditions.

We’ve got a couple more solid pulses coming in. Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd of September see a 5ft to 6ft WSW swell, with a 14-second period and cross-offshore winds. The energy is getting strong, hitting 1033 to 1057. The surf is still clean, and with that long period, a reef like Whites Reef could hold it together nicely. It's rated marginal in the data, but with that wind and size, there will be some punchy, well-shaped waves for the intermediate crew.

Then there's a bit of a big one on Friday the 4th of September. The swell pushes up to 6ft from the SW, with a 16-second period and a massive 1611 combined energy (very strong). But the wind swings onshore from the WSW. That kind of power with onshore wind will just be a blown-out mess – strictly for the experts, and probably not worth the paddle-out.

So, the real winner here is that Sunday the 30th of August afternoon. Clean, fun-sized, and a proper little window of quality. The first half of the run is mostly a waste of time, so save your energy for the end of August and start of September. It'll come good.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Thu afternoon). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 10°C on Tue afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Thu
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
1
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
W
13
0.9
SW
16
1.3
WSW
14
1.2
WSW
14
1.8
WSW
16
1.6
SW
15
1.6
SW
14
1.6
SW
14
1.3
SW
14
1.3
SW
16
1.1
SW
15
1
SW
14
1
SW
13
1.1
SW
14
1.3
SW
13
1.4
SW
16
1.4
SW
14
1.1
SW
13
1
SW
13
0.8
WSW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
268
362
697
602
1527
1088
1092
970
614
793
535
387
320
404
577
952
799
437
331
184
Wind (km/h)
25
WNW
25
W
25
WNW
25
WNW
30
WNW
25
W
20
WSW
10
W
15
NW
20
W
15
NW
20
NNW
25
WNW
15
W
20
S
30
S
25
S
15
S
10
SW
10
NW
Wind State
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
High Tide
5:03AM0.15m
2:07PM0.14m
6:32AM0.13m
1:24PM0.15m
12:33PM0.16m
12:20PM0.17m
12:30PM0.18m
00:13AM0.07m
12:45PM0.19m
00:15AM0.09m
Low Tide
9:34PM0.01m
9:42AM0.12m
9:53PM0.02m
8:41AM0.13m
10:09PM0.03m
10:19PM0.04m
9:51PM0.05m
8:45PM0.06m
4:47AM0.05m
8:12PM0.06m
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
light rain
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:13
7:11
7:09
7:09
7:07
7:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:00
6:01
6:02
6:04
6:05
6:06
6:06
 mm
4
1
1
Temp °C
12
12
13
13
13
13
13
12
13
13
12
16
15
13
12
11
10
11
10
9
Feels °C
7
6
8
7
8
8
9
9
8
9
9
12
10
11
7
5
4
6
6
6
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Whites Reef Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Whites Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Whites Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Whites Reef surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Whites Reef) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Whites Reef may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Are you planning a holiday in Far West of Victoria? If you are looking for accommodation near Whites Reef, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Far West of Victoria, consider staying in Portland which is 18 km (11 miles) away. Other places in and around Far West of Victoria where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Allendale East which is 70 km (43 miles) away, Mount Gambier and Warrnambool.

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