Hello Friends,

Around 1800 there were a few to be had at NE spots...

Three reports in one day! How’s that for dedication? Went back to Northy for the late with about 60 other similarly inclined folks. Swell had pushed up a bit more so PB and I jumped in for a few. Pretty fun it was too, despite the crowd. It was just consistent enough that even a duffer like your correspondent could launch himself into a few. Not classic Northy, but every now and then, one held up for more than a few turns. And there was a bit of okay size. On average they were around chest high, but there were definitely a few head high plus bombs to be had. Bureau says the wind will go hard from the NE overnight but tomorrow should be more around to the NW, and then gradually it should track around to the SW. If the swell sticks around, we should definitely have numerous surf options at NE exposed stretches.

Mostly junky shutdowns, but the odd section coming through now and again.

Midday update for ya. Was out and about on an errand, so swung by the beach for a closer look. The forecast wind (see my earlier report below) had not arrived in great strength when I got down to Northy for a squizz a little after 1100. Not too many people in the water considering the teachers’ strike earlier. There was a little size about, but the quality was only so-so. Typical short period NE windswell really, ie lumpy and messy with the usual now you see ‘em now you don’t sections on offer. Watched for awhile to see if I could be tempted… but by the time the drizzle started getting persistent, I still wasn’t interested enough to go home for a board.

Fairly chaotic NE windswell, but some sizable moments in the mix.

Had a nice chat with an arborist who’d also stopped by to check it out. Learnt among other things that lemon-scented gums are notorious in the trade for abruptly dropping limbs. Apparently it’s often impossible to detect which one will drop, but they do tend to fall more often when there’s rain. So now you know too! Anyway, I thought it was kinda cool to learn. After the arborist and I headed off in opposite directions, I went up to Warriewood for a scan of the condx up toward Mona. Hmmm… not as good as Murph saw earlier (see his report below)…

…earlier today I wrote…

0900: not the most attractive surf situation, but not totally flat either.

Apologies for wandering in late this morning. Alarm clock, blah-blah, who cares… anyway, climbing up to the crows nest and pointing the 650 down toward Dee Why revealed rather small and junky conditions. A reasonable size crew was in nevertheless (teachers’ strike?), so if you’re keen… really, really keen… you can get a little something. From what Ross and Murph say though, it might be a plan to be looking elsewhere.

The reason is pretty obvious when you look at the latest MHL data. Since around midday yesterday, the dominant swell direction has swung around to the NNE (in line with the model predictions). Not the best for Dee Why, but should be reasonable in semi-exposed north corners (Whaley, north Av maybe, MV, Norffy, N.Curly, etc).

As I write this around 0940, the wind is out of the north to NE at anywhere from 10-15 kts. But the call is for it to ramp up 25-30 kts by this afternoon. The rain periods are expected to increase as we go along through the day.

According to the Bureau, it’s going to be fairly blasting along tomorrow morning: “Thursday: Wind: N/NE 30/40 knots tending NW 20/30 knots in morning and easing to 15/20 knots during the day.Sea: 3 to 4 metres abating 2 to 3 metres morning and 1 to 2 metres later. Swell: NE 2 to 2.5 metres. Isolated thunderstorms. ” Sounds like protected NE corners are going to be your best shot again.

Should be interesting!

Go well with your day – and stay happy!