Winki Pop Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get into it.

We're looking at a mixed bag for Winki Pop over the next couple of weeks. The first few days are a bit of a write-off, but patience is going to pay off with a couple of absolute crackers. The water temp is sitting at 55.9°F, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so don't expect any surprises there.

The first real chance of a wave kicks off on Thursday the 20th of August. It's nothing to write home about, with a small 1.3ft to 1.6ft SW swell pushing through. The wind is offshore though, from the NW, and that's a big tick for a spot like this. It'll be clean, but the wave energy is pretty weak at 169-174, so you're looking at small, fun little waves if you're desperate for a paddle.

Things start to build nicely into Friday the 21st. The swell nudges up to 2.3ft to 3.0ft from the SW, with a solid 15-second period. The wind stays light and offshore from the NW, making for clean, gentle conditions. The combined energy jumps to 424-535, which is a sign that the ocean is waking up. This is a decent session, but it's just the warm-up.

Now, Saturday the 22nd is where things get serious. We see a significant jump in swell size, hitting 11.5ft on the morning from the SW. The energy reading is a massive 8020, which is a lot of power. The wind is cross-off from the W, so it's still workable. But let's be real, 11.5ft at Winki Pop is a big, heavy wave. This is expert territory only. The afternoon drops to a still-sizeable 6.6ft, but the energy is still high at 2074.

Sunday the 23rd is the standout. The swell has backed off a touch to a solid 4.9ft, still from the SW. The period is a long 16 seconds, giving it real groundswell grunt. But the real story is the wind. It's a glassy, offshore WSW breeze in the afternoon, with the energy hitting 2013. This is the best on offer. The report says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers," and I can't argue with that. It's going to be clean, powerful, and lined up. Crowds are "often" here, so expect a few mates out there, but it'll be worth it.

The following week from Monday the 24th through Tuesday the 25th sees the swell ease back but remain fun. Expect 3.3ft to 3.6ft SW swell in the morning, dropping to 3.0ft in the arvo. Light offshore winds keep it clean. It's a solid, consistent run of surf.

After that, it gets a bit messy. The wind swings around and strengthens from Wednesday the 26th onwards, turning the ocean into a lumpy, choppy mess for a few days. There's a small window on Thursday the 27th of August with a 4.3ft to 4.6ft SW swell, but the strong cross-off wind makes it a tough call. We get a bit of a break on Friday the 28th with a fresh offshore NW wind, but the swell is still a bit junky. By the time we hit the 29th, it's onshore and ugly.

Looking further out to Monday the 1st of September and Tuesday the 2nd, the swell is back to a small 3.3ft or so, but the wind is never quite right, staying onshore or cross-onshore. It's a long wait for the next quality session.

So, in short: ignore the first few days. The only real standout is Sunday the 23rd of August. That afternoon session is the one you want to circle on the calendar. The Saturday before is for the brave (or the foolish).

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