Woolgoolga Back Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, it’s Rusty here, and I’ve got the lowdown on what’s coming up for Woolgoolga Back Beach. This forecast is a bit of a mixed bag, so let’s get into it.

The water temp is sitting at 68°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so nothing weird going on there.

Honestly, the first week and a half is pretty grim. From Saturday the 5th right through to Tuesday the 15th, it’s mostly a write-off. We’ve got a few days with tiny swell and dodgy onshore winds, making for poor conditions. Sunday afternoon the 6th sees a bump in size to 5ft, but it’s a short period 5-second wind swell from the SSE with a 19 mph cross-onshore, which is just ugly and lumpy. That energy reading is 160 (moderate), but the quality is junk.

Monday the 7th morning has some 6ft swell at 10 seconds from the SSE, with a light cross-onshore, but the wave comment says it’s only marginal. The energy is up there at 627 (moderate), but the wind and tide are just not playing ball. The next few days are a repeat of that story – some size, but always with that cross-onshore wind messing it up. By Thursday the 10th, the swell hits 8ft with a 19 mph cross-onshore, making it a lumpy, blown-out mess. That’s too big for beginners and not much fun for anyone else in those winds.

Now, there’s a gap of a few days where the surf is tiny or just ordinary until we get to the real standout. The best window is shaping up for Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th, but the real gem is Friday the 18th.

On Wednesday the 16th morning, we get a solid 8ft S swell at 10 seconds, with a clean cross-offshore breeze from the NNE. The energy is a strong 1396 (strong). It’s a bit big for beginners, but for the experienced crew, it’s worth a look. The afternoon is similar but stronger wind.

Thursday the 17th is a big day – 10ft of SSE groundswell rolling in, with a very long 16 second period. The energy is massive at 3913 (very strong). The morning wind is light and cross-onshore, so it’s a bit bumpy, but this is a proper, powerful groundswell. That kind of period is best suited for a point or reef, and at a beach break like Woolgoolga Back Beach, it might be a bit straight and heavy. Still, for experts, it’s a serious session.

But the absolute standout, the one you wait for, is Friday the 18th morning. The forecast is for a 10ft SE groundswell at 16 seconds, with glassy conditions. That’s a total score. The energy is a massive 4075 (very strong), and the wind is virtually nothing from the ESE. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. It’s a big, powerful, clean swell – the kind that makes you forget about all the average days. The afternoon turns onshore again, so you’ll want to be on it early.

After that, Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th see the swell drop back down and the onshore winds return, so the fun is over.

So, don’t bother with the first week and a half. The only real standout is Friday the 18th morning – get out there early for the big, clean, glassy groundswell. It’s a proper session for the experienced.

Rusty.

Read more