Woodlands Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you – this next stretch is looking pretty slim for a proper paddle. We've got a lot of small, short-period wind swell and plenty of breeze, which is going to make things tricky for a while.

The water is warm, sitting at 84°, which is right about where it should be for this time of year. That's about the only thing that's normal.

Woodlands Beach is an inconsistent spot that doesn't break that often, so when it's flat, it's properly flat. The first week or so, from Saturday the 15th right through to the 23rd, is going to be a write-off for any real waves. We're looking at knee-high slop, mostly under 1ft, with a short period around 7-11 seconds coming from the NNE. The wind is mostly cross-off or offshore, which will keep the surface clean, but there's just no energy in the water to make it worth your while. It’s a whole lot of paddling for nothing.

There is one day that stands out from the crowd, and it's a long way off. On Monday the 24th, the models are showing a pulse of proper groundswell. The morning is still tiny, with a 0.7m (2ft) NNE swell, but the afternoon is where it gets interesting. A solid 2.0m (7ft) swell from the ENE with a long 13-second period is forecast to roll in. That's the standout of the whole window. The combined energy reading for that afternoon is a massive 1774, which tells you there's some serious power behind it. That's a strong, long-period swell, and it's pointing right at this exposed break.

Now, for a beginner spot, anything over 1.5m (5ft) is pushing it, and 2.0m (7ft) is definitely in the too-big category for most. This is one for the experienced crew only. The long period means it will peel nicely along the point here, but it can also make things a bit shifty. The east wind will be cross-off and fresh, so it should be clean, but expect a real battle to get out the back. This is the one to watch, but purely for the experts. It's a shame it's on a Monday, because the rest of the week looks flat again.

After that spike, the surf drops right back off into tiny dribble for the end of the month. The 25th onwards shows nothing but 0.1m (0.3ft) for the most part, with the period dropping back down. There's a continued breeze, but that's about it. With this much wind and tiny, blown-out swell, you might be better off rigging up a kite than trying to surf. The setup just looks more interesting for the kitesurfers than for us paddle surfers.

So, to sum it up: wait for the 24th. It's a long way off, so treat it as promising but not locked in. Get your big board ready, but for now, keep the leash dry. The rest of the window is a story of wind and no waves.

Rusty.

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