Whites Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let’s look at the next couple of weeks for our stretch of coast. It’s gonna be a bit of a mixed bag, with a slow start and then a proper pulse of swell, but you’re gonna have to pick your moments with the wind.

We’re looking at a real dry spell to kick things off. The first couple of days have waves, but they’re messy and onshore, so not worth your time. The water’s sitting at 59°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so at least you won’t need the thickest gloves. After that, we’ve got a long run of poor conditions, with light, onshore breezes and lumpy surf. It’s not until Friday the 7th that things start to look a little more interesting, and even then it’s only marginal. The swell is picking up to around 4ft from the SW with a 15-second period, and the energy is starting to build – we’re seeing a combined energy of 711. But it’s still a bit cross and won't be clean.

That Friday is the first real chance, but the wind is a bit off, so don't expect perfection. The weekend is a write-off again, with rain and stronger winds. By Monday the 10th, we see the swell jump to 6ft, but it’s onshore and the energy is up around 1839. It’s just not going to be any good, and the same goes for the next day, with a fresh cross-shore making it lumpy.

The big one looks like it’s arriving on Wednesday the 12th of August. The swell is going to stack up to 10ft from the WSW, and the energy is getting serious – we're talking a combined energy of 5680 by that afternoon. But, and it’s a big but, the wind is onshore and fresh, so it’s going to be a complete mess. This is a case of a lot of water moving but no shape to it. Honestly, this setup looks far more interesting for the kite crew than for anyone paddling out.

That big, messy swell lingers through Thursday the 13th, with the morning showing some cleaner potential if the wind backs off, but it’s still going to be a handful. The period is up to 17-18 seconds, which is proper groundswell, but it’s coming in with a strong cross-onshore, so I’d be wary of it being too straight and unruly on the inside. This is expert territory only, and even then, it’s not going to be pretty.

By Sunday the 16th, the swell backs down to a more manageable 4ft from the SW, and we finally get a light offshore breeze with clean conditions. The energy is a modest 686, but it’s the cleanest looking surf on offer. That’s your standout, mate. It’s a decent window, and the drop in size will make it more user-friendly for the average surfer. It’s still a reef break, so it’ll be a proper wave, but it’s the pick of the forecast.

After that, things go quiet again. The following week is filled with small, clean but weak surf, and the winds get a bit nasty later on. The 18th has a bit of size with a long period, but it’s cross and choppy again. It just never really comes together. So, rule of thumb: Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th are your best bets. The 16th is the one to circle.

Rusty, signing off.

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