Woolgoolga Back Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Woolgoolga Back Beach.

The next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag, and to be honest, they’re mostly a write-off for the first week and a half. We’ve got a real dry spell here; the surf window is pretty much closed until we get towards the end of the period. It’s a long wait, but there is a glimmer of hope for the final weekend.

The main issue is the wind. For the first few days, we’re looking at a strong onshore and cross-onshore flow from the south and SSE, which is just ruining what could be decent swell. The water temp is sitting at about 68°F, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no dramas there.

Let’s get into it. The early part of the forecast is a big fat zero. Wednesday the 9th, Thursday the 10th, all the way through to the 18th, it’s all scoring zero or one. The wave heights are either too small, or the wind is howling cross-on. The 10th of September, for example, we’ve got a solid 8ft of SSE swell, but with a 19 mph cross-on wind, it’s just a lumpy, messy beast. The combined swell energy is a massive 1167 (moderate to strong), but it’s completely unsurfable. Even the 19th of September, when we see a peak of 10ft from the SSE and a combined energy of 1665 (strong), it’s accompanied by a fresh 19 mph cross-on, so it’s a no-go. That kind of size and wind is only for the experts, and even then, it’s going to be a washing machine.

The real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, is the morning of Sunday the 20th of September. Glassy conditions, with a light ESE breeze of 3 mph. The swell is a clean 5ft from the SSE, with a period of 10 seconds. That’s a nice, proper groundswell for the beach. The combined energy is 605 (moderate), but the clean conditions are the key. The wind is glassy, so the face will be smooth. It’s a fairly consistent break, so you’ll get waves. The direction from the SSE is just about perfect for the exposure here. Keep in mind it can get a bit crowded at times, so get in early. This is the best option on offer.

The Monday morning (21st of September) is also a decent second choice, with 3ft of clean swell from the SSE and a light cross-offshore breeze. It’s much smaller, but it’ll be clean and fun for a beginner. After that, the swell drops off again, and the winds pick up, so it’s back to the waiting game.

So, to wrap it up: the first 11 days are a total bust. The standout is the morning of the 20th of September for that glassy, clean 5ft swell. It’s the only time I’d be paddling out. The rest is just noise.

Rusty.

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