Broadway Beach - surf spot statistics

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The heart of the winter season brings the most consistent swell to Broadway Beach. As the North Atlantic storm track ramps up, long-period groundswells from the NW and WNW become more frequent, although the south-facing orientation of the beach means these swells often arrive at a less than ideal angle. However, the occasional south-easterly or southerly component from lingering low pressure systems can deliver clean lines. Wind patterns also improve, with northerly offshore breezes (N, NNW, NW) becoming more prevalent, especially after cold fronts pass. This window offers the best chance of rideable, shoulder-high surf with a punchy period.

Fair Surf Season (April & September)

The transitional months of April and September see a mixed bag. Swell energy is lower, but the wind becomes more variable. In April, the tail end of winter still brings some NW swell, while September sees the first hints of autumn activity. However, onshore breezes dominate much of the time, limiting quality. When a low pressure system stalls off the coast, it can spin up clean SSE swell with lighter winds – these are the days to watch.

Low Surf Season (May - August)

Summer months are the most challenging for surf at Broadway Beach. The swell window is dominated by short-period, small windswell from the east and southeast, with average heights rarely exceeding 0.5m. The prevailing wind is from the south-southwest through southwest, which is directly onshore for a south-facing beach, creating bumpy, choppy conditions. The wave period averages around 6-7 seconds, offering little power. While early mornings can occasionally see light northerly breezes, the window for clean surf is extremely narrow. This is the season to focus on longboard or log sessions in small, weak waves, or just enjoy the beach.

May: Summer Lull Begins

May marks the official entry into the doldrums. Average swell height drops to 0.5m with a period of 6.7s. The swell direction is overwhelmingly from the SE (16.8%) and SSE (17.5%) and S (14.6%), but nearly all is under 0.5m – micro swell. Only a tiny fraction reaches 1m. Winds are ideal a mere 6% of the time, as the prevailing flow becomes southerly: SSW (9.6%), S (9.3%), and SSE (7.6%) dominate, all of which are onshore for the south-facing beach. These winds produce a bumpy, choppy surface that makes even the small swell hard to ride. Early mornings can see a brief window of light N winds, but the window is narrow. It's a month to practice your pop-up or head to the jetty for some small wave practice – nothing firing here.