Wollongong North Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the charts for your local stretch.

Honestly, I hate to start on a bummer, but this outlook is a tough one. We’ve got a solid 16-day window ahead, and the first real surf worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until the weekend of August 23rd. That’s a long dry spell, nearly two weeks of tiny, weak waves where the ocean just looks flat and uninviting. For a spot that’s usually pumping, this is a quiet patch. But don’t lose hope; it tends not to stay this poor for long, and forecasts can change.

The first glimmer of something happens on Saturday, August 23rd afternoon. The swell bumps up a bit with a 4ft swell from the SE, but it’s a short period wind swell at 6 seconds. The combined energy is moderate at 124, so there’s a little push, but the wind is light cross-onshore, making it a bit bumpy. It’s not going to be a standout for anyone but the most desperate. The real focus is on Sunday, August 24th morning. The wind switches to a light cross-on from the N, but the swell drops back to 1.0ft. It’s still not the day.

The only true standout in this entire 16-day period is Sunday, August 24th afternoon. Wait, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me re-check the data. The only day with a bit of size and potential is actually Saturday, August 10th. Wait, no. Everything is marked as “poor surf conditions” and a score of 0 out of 10. My apologies, let me be more careful.

Looking at the numbers, the only time the swell gets over 3ft is on Monday, August 12th (6ft) and Saturday, August 23rd (4ft). But the wind is howling on the 12th – a fresh cross-shore NW wind at 22 mph – making it messy and lumpy. That’s a kite surfer’s day, not a clean paddle session. The water is around 64°F, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

For the whole 16-day run, the best option is the tiny window on Saturday, August 23rd afternoon. The swell is 4ft from the SE, but it’s a short period wind swell and the wind is light cross-onshore. It’s not great, but it’s the only thing with enough energy to surf. The rest of the window is a flat, clean, glassy lake with no swell to speak of.

Wollongong North Beach is an exposed spot that needs an ENE swell to work its magic. We’re not getting that in any meaningful way. Most of the time the swell is tiny (0.7ft to 2ft) and the combined energy is weak, often under 100. The winds are mostly clean or cross-offshore, which is frustrating because the waves just aren’t there.

The bottom line: If you’re desperate for a paddle, Saturday, August 23rd afternoon is your best bet, but don’t expect much. The rest of the period is a total write-off for surf. A blank run like this is unusual for the area, but it happens.

Rusty.

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