Surf Forecasts:
Whites Reef surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 16s period, SW swell with 1,297 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 15s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Whites Reef this week:
The surf forecast for Whites Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Whites Reef in the next 16 days are 1.6m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 8s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Whites Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks are going to test your patience. We’ve got a long, frustrating stretch of poor conditions ahead before things finally turn around. The good news is, there is light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s a fair way off.
The immediate future is a write-off. From Tuesday the 18th through to the end of the month, it’s a mess. We’ve got constant onshore and cross-shore winds, lumpy chop, and rain. The swell is there, but it’s being shredded by the wind. You’ll see some energy in the water—moderate to strong at times—but it’s all over the place. The first real glimmer of hope doesn’t show up until the very start of September, and that’s a long, barren stretch to wait through.
Let’s break it down. The opening days are hopeless. Tuesday the 18th has a bit of swell, but the NE winds are cross-off, and the water’s already a touch warmer than normal at 59°F, which is notable. Still, the waves are just too small and the wind too messy to bother with. Wednesday and Thursday are worse, with rain and rising winds from the NW making it completely junky. The swell builds through Friday and Saturday, with combined energy climbing to 848 and even hitting 1319 on the Saturday morning, but it’s all onshore wind. The sets are there, but they’re blown-out and lumpy. This is not surfable for anyone.
We then hit a dead zone. From Sunday the 23rd through to the 31st, the swell stays inconsistent and small, mostly under 3ft, with cross-shore winds that keep the surface chopped up. There’s a little pulse of longer-period swell around the 29th and 30th, but the winds are still cross and messy. It’s a long, frustrating gap where you’re better off doing anything else.
Now, here’s the payoff. We finally get a proper window on Tuesday the 1st of September. The morning looks clean. The wind swings to a light SE cross-off at just 3 mph, and we’ve got 3ft of SW swell with a solid 16-second period. Combined energy is moderate at 449. This is a real groundswell, and the light wind will have it glassy. The afternoon holds up with a touch more size at 3ft. This is the standout of the whole period, no question.
Wednesday the 2nd is another good one, and might even be the pick of the bunch. Morning brings a light NNE cross-off breeze at 6 mph, with the swell bumping up to 4ft from the WSW, still with that long 16-second period. Energy is moderate at 694. It’s clean, it’s got push, and the light wind should keep it tidy. The afternoon glass-off is tempting with a 3 mph SW wind, but the tide might be questionable.
For the standout, I’m calling it for Whites Reef. It’s a reef break, exposed to the west, and it loves this long-period SW groundswell. The direction is spot on. The light cross-off winds will have it looking proper. Just be aware, it’s fairly consistent but can be a bit inconsistent at times, and the crowd factor is real, so expect company. If you can only get out once, make it the Tuesday or Wednesday morning of that first week of September. It’s promising, but like any long-range call, we’ll keep our fingers crossed that the models hold.
That’s the story. Hang tight, the wait will be worth it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | W 10 | W 13 | W 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
149 | 242 | 137 | 115 | 106 | 233 | 392 | 347 | 303 | 647 | 494 | 1163 | 1297 | 1185 | 998 | 565 | 803 | 479 | 289 | 218 | 168 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 2:21PM0.16m | 3:38AM0.16m | 2:26PM0.15m | 4:17AM0.16m | 2:24PM0.15m | 5:03AM0.15m | 2:07PM0.14m | 6:32AM0.13m | 1:24PM0.15m | 12:33PM0.16m | 12:20PM0.17m | ||||||||||
Low Tide | 8:54PM0.01m | 9:11AM0.08m | 9:14PM0.01m | 9:30AM0.10m | 9:34PM0.01m | 9:42AM0.12m | 9:53PM0.02m | 8:41AM0.13m | 10:09PM0.03m | 10:19PM0.04m | 9:51PM0.05m | ||||||||||
7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | |
— | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | |
mm | — | — | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | WSW 13 | W 13 | SW 16 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 15 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 |
149 | 242 | 137 | 115 | 106 | 118 | 392 | 91 | 303 | 647 | 494 | 1163 | 1297 | 1185 | 998 | 565 | 803 | 479 | 289 | 218 | 168 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | E 6 | SW 19 | SW 17 | — | SW 16 | WSW 19 | SW 17 | — | SW 24 | SSW 21 | SW 20 | SW 18 | SW 16 | — | SW 20 | SW 20 | WSW 18 |
147 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 56 | 97 | — | 239 | 201 | 243 | — | 22 | 45 | 97 | 152 | 203 | — | 15 | 15 | 31 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | S 9 | — | — | — | — | SW 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 98 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NNW 5 | WNW 7 | W 10 | — | W 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | — | — |
2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 54 | 233 | — | 347 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 47 | 114 | 47 | 373 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 204 | 19 | 19 | 75 | 227 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Far West of Victoria | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











