Winki Pop Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty.

Alright, let’s break it down. The next couple of weeks start a bit slow, but there’s a big pulse of energy coming if you’re willing to wait.

The Overview

We’ve got a few average, choppy days to start, then a crystal-clear window on Saturday morning. After that, it goes flat and weak for nearly a week. Then, just when you’re about to pack it in, a big, powerful swell hits around Monday the 24th. That’s the one to circle on the calendar – a serious day for experienced surfers only.

The First Run

First up is Friday afternoon. It’s cloudy with a cross-shore breeze, and we’ve got about 7ft of SW swell with a long 15-second period. The energy is strong, sitting at 2088. But it’s a bit of a messy one – the wind and tide aren’t cooperating, so it’s not the cleanest. You might get a few, but it’s not the day.

The Clear Winner

Now, Saturday morning is where it’s at early on. The wind drops right out to a glassy 5 km/h from the SSE, and we’ve still got 6ft of SW swell on a 15-second period. The energy is still solid at 1512. This is your clean, lined-up, proper surf. The reef and point setup at Winki Pop will be handling this beautifully. It’s an advanced wave, so it’s not for the faint-hearted, but for those in the know, this is the pick of the first week. The water temp is 56°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so keep the booties handy.

The Flat Spell

After that Saturday morning, the tap gets turned off pretty quick. Saturday afternoon drops off, and then Sunday through to Friday the 21st is a real struggle. The swell drops to under 4ft and mostly under 3ft. The energy readings are weak, often in the hundreds. There are a few clean-looking mornings with offshore winds, but there just isn’t any power in the water. You’d be on a foamie just to get a few knee-high dribbles. It’s a proper lull, about five or six days of barely anything worth paddling out for.

The Main Event

Now, hold on to your board, because Monday the 24th of August is where it’s at. We’ve got a big jump in size – 8ft of SW swell on a 16-second period. The energy reading is massive, over 3700. That is some serious, powerful groundswell. The wind is light and offshore from the N at 10 km/h in the morning, and it goes almost glassy by the afternoon. This will be a day of big, grinding lines at Winki Pop (VIC). This is for experts only – 8ft plus on a reef and point is not messing around. The long period is great for this kind of break, giving it heaps of shape and push. It’s the clear standout of the whole outlook, but remember, it’s over a week away, so keep an eye on it. The Tuesday after that is still fun, with 5ft and clean conditions, but it’s on the way down.

After that, the energy fizzles out again for the last few days of the window. The swell drops back down to less than 3ft, and it’s mostly cross-offshore winds. There’s nothing really worth getting excited about in that final stretch.

So, to sum it up: don’t stress about the flat spell in the middle. Get out there Saturday morning for some clean ones, and then start planning your week around Monday the 24th. That’s the one that’ll make it all worth it.

Rusty.

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