15th Street Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. I’ve been looking at the charts for the next couple of weeks, and honestly, it’s a bit of a tough stretch for 15th Street. The first week is looking pretty grim with no real green light to paddle out, so we’re going to have to wait it out for something half-decent. The good news is that light, offshore winds are a regular feature, but the swell just isn’t delivering the quality you’d want.

The whole period kicks off with a few days of tiny, weak swell. From Friday the 7th of August through to the end of the first week, the waves are small, ranging from 2ft to 3ft, coming from the SSW. The wind is offshore from the west or WNW, which is a huge positive for clean conditions, but the wave energy is weak (combined energy sitting between 300 and 423). The period is long, around 14 to 19 seconds, offering some clean lines, but the size is just too small and the surf is consistently poor.

The second week is where things get a little more interesting, but it’s still nothing to phone home about. From Friday the 14th of August, the swell picks up a bit. We’re looking at 2ft to 4ft of SSW swell, and the combined energy jumps into the moderate range (581 to 758). The wind stays offshore from the WNW or W, keeping the surface clean. The period is still long, between 14 and 18 seconds, which means better shaped waves but longer lulls. The water temperature is a massive standout here – it’s 76°F, which is a whopping 8°F warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s very unusual, so you’ll be paddling in bathwater. Even with the cleaner conditions, the surf quality is still only marginal, with a few sessions on Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th of August having the best shot at some rideable, if small, waves.

After that, the swell drops back off. From Monday the 17th of August through to the end of the forecast on Saturday the 22nd, we’re back to tiny, weak surf. The waves are 2ft to 3ft, with combined energy falling back below 500. The wind is offshore or light cross-onshore, but the small size and poor quality mean there’s still nothing worth chasing.

Honestly, if you’re desperate for a paddle, the standout window is the weekend of the 15th and 16th of August. The swell will be at its biggest, around 3ft to 4ft, with that clean offshore wind. The wave energy is moderate (591 to 758), and the long period from the SSW will give the lines some shape. But it’s still small, so don’t expect anything epic. For a more reliable option, the consistent, long-period swell and favourable offshore winds mean the waves will be clean, but they’ll also be small and slow. The water is going to be incredibly warm, which is a nice bonus for a session that’s more about floating than ripping.

There’s a big gap at the start with no good surf, and then a long stretch of poor conditions afterwards. The only real chance is that mid-August window. It’s not going to be pumping, but it’s the best of a quiet run.

Rusty.

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