Winki Pop Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of surf coming up at Winki Pop, with the best of it centred around the middle of this week and into the weekend. The water’s sitting at 56°F, which is about average for this time of year – no surprises there.

It kicks off Wednesday morning, August 12. Early on there’s a 5ft SW groundswell rolling in with a very long 16-second period – that’s proper energy, with a combined energy reading of 1225 (moderate-strong). The wind’s a cross-off at 16 mph, so it’ll be clean, but the conditions are a bit marginal overall. By the afternoon, the swell bumps up to 6ft with the same long period and energy jumps to 1501. Wind drops to 12 mph from the WNW, still cross-off, so it stays clean. It’s not firing on all cylinders yet, but it’s building.

Thursday the 13th is where things start to get interesting. Morning sees 7ft of SW groundswell, again with that long 16-second period. Combined energy is a hefty 2444 (strong). Wind is cross-off from the W at 12 mph – clean waves, but the size is pushing into the too-big-for-beginners range. Afternoon holds steady at 7ft with similar energy (2426) and lighter 9 mph winds from the west. Still clean, still solid.

Friday the 14th is the standout. Morning has 7ft SW swell, 16-second period, and combined energy of 2148 (strong). Wind is a gentle cross-off from the W at 9 mph – that’s about as clean as it gets. The surf report calls it excellent for experienced surfers, which it is. This is your window. Afternoon drops a touch to 6ft with a 15-second period, but the wind swings SW and goes cross-shore at 12 mph, bringing in a bit of cross-chop. Morning is definitely the call.

Saturday the 15th sees the swell ease to 6ft, still with a 15-second period, but the wind goes onshore from the SSE at just 3 mph in the morning – that’s light enough to keep it workable, though the energy drops to 1306 (moderate). Afternoon gets messy with S cross-onshore at 9 mph and some chop. By Sunday the 16th, we’re down to 4ft and 4ft, period drops to 14 seconds, and the wind stays cross-on or onshore. Still surfable, but nothing to write home about.

Monday the 17th through Wednesday the 19th is a lull. Swell drops below 3ft, with periods still decent but energy fading to between 107 and 584 (weak to very weak). Winds are mostly cross-off or offshore, so there’s clean small waves, but it’s really only for the dedicated longboarder or someone keen for a paddle. Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st stay small – 2ft or less, energy below 300 – clean but tiny.

Then we get another pulse around August 24, Monday, into Tuesday the 25th. Monday morning shows 6ft from the WSW with a short 10-second period and combined energy of 1284 (moderate). The wind is cross-on from the ESE at 9 mph, so it’s a bit bumpy. Monday afternoon jumps to 8ft from the WSW with an 11-second period and energy of 2268 (strong). That’s expert territory for sure – too big for most. Wind is lighter cross-on from the ESE at 6 mph, so less chop but still onshore. Tuesday the 25th brings 6ft to 7ft SW groundswell with a 14- to 15-second period, clean cross-off winds from the north at 12 mph. That looks promising, but it’s over a week away, so keep an eye on it.

Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th settle back down into clean but smaller waves, with offshore winds and swell around 3ft to 4ft. Not a bad way to finish the run.

Overall, Friday morning August 14 is the pick of the bunch – solid 7ft SW swell, long period, clean offshore-ish wind, and excellent quality. The late August window around Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th has size and energy but comes with wind and crowd caveats at a break that’s often busy. If you’re after power and can handle the crowd, that’s your second bite.

Rusty.

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