Amanzimtoti Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. It’s a grim stretch ahead for Amanzimtoti, to be honest. The water’s sitting at 69°, which is about average for this time of year – not a worry there. But the real story is the wind and swell not lining up at all. For the next 16 days, there isn’t a single time I’d be rushing to get wet. There are some serious lumps of energy coming through, but the wind is almost always wrecking the ride.

Starting off this Monday, the 31st of August, things are already messy. We’ve got a 4 ft easterly swell with a short 9-second period, but that south wind at 9 mph is blowing cross-onshore, making it choppy and poor. The energy is weak (369), and it’s just not worth paddling out. Tuesday the 1st of September sees the swell drop right off—only 3 ft and then down to 0.7 ft—with a weak cross-shore wind. Surf is flat and poor. Wednesday the 2nd has a pulse of 4 ft SSW groundswell at 15 seconds, with moderate energy (680), but again, that cross-onshore wind from the south messes it up. No good.

Thursday the 3rd looks cleaner with a morning offshore from the NNE at 19 mph, and a waist-high 3 ft SSW swell, but it’s just not enough size or push to get excited about. The energy is weak (249). Then Friday the 4th kicks off with a bang—8 ft of short-period SSE swell, energy hitting 1112, but the rain and a 19 mph cross-onshore wind make it a lumpy, blown-out mess. By Friday afternoon, the swell jumps to 15 ft with energy at 4416, but it’s the same story: fresh cross-onshore wind. That’s not surf for paddling; that’s a kite session if you’re keen.

The weekend isn’t better. Saturday the 5th has 8 ft of SSE swell, and the wind lightens to a cross-on from the ENE at 6 mph, but the quality is only marginal. It’s too big for beginners at over 5 ft, and that short 8-10 second period keeps it lumpy. Sunday the 6th sees a solid 12 ft to 15 ft S swell with heavy energy (2145 to 3383), but the wind is howling 19 to 28 mph from the SSW, cross-on and messy. Forget it.

The following week doesn’t let up. Monday the 7th of September pumps out a massive 16 ft S groundswell with an incredible 14-second period—energy at 8875—but the wind is a strong cross-on. It’s a beast for experts only, if you could even get out. Tuesday the 8th stays big at 12 ft to 10 ft, but the wind keeps it choppy. Wednesday the 9th has a 13 ft ESE swell with very long 14-second periods, energy over 6000, but again, cross-onshore wind.

From Thursday the 10th onward, the swell slowly drops to 8 ft and then 4 ft by Friday the 11th, but the wind is never kind. A few light cross-onshore breezes on the 10th offer the best chance for semi-clean waves, but the energy is moderate at best (1951 or 1337). It’s still a marginal call. The last few days, from the 12th to the 15th of September, fade out to tiny, weak swell under 3 ft with messy cross-shore winds. There’s nothing to recommend here. If you’re desperate, head to another break or wait for a change in the weather pattern. Hang in there.

Rusty

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