Chernobyl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cooking for the next couple of weeks.

Not gonna lie, for the first week or so, it’s a bit of a desert out there. We’re looking at a long, slow stretch of tiny, mixed-up slop from Monday 24 August right through until the end of the month. The swell is gonna be weak, under 3 feet, with periods all over the shop and a lot of onshore wind. The combined energy is just a whisper for most of it, usually under 100 (22-92). It’s the kind of stuff that’ll have you wondering if you should've just stayed in bed. The first real sign of life doesn’t even show up until Tuesday 1 September morning, when the energy finally jumps up to 294, but it’s still described as marginal – too much onshore wind to get excited about.

The one spot we’ve got to watch is Chernobyl. A beginner-friendly break, it’s fairly consistent but for this whole first week, conditions are just poor. The water temp is a warm 86°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so at least a dip won’t be a shock to the system.

Now, the real story starts to unfold as we head into Wednesday 2 September. That morning, things get glassy and the swell starts to build. The energy climbs to moderate (325) and for the first time, we get a proper “expect good surf conditions” call. But the standouts, the sessions you’ll be telling your mates about, are the mornings of Thursday 3 September and Friday 4 September.

Thursday 3 September morning is the pick of the whole run. The swell is a solid 5 feet out of the east, with a long-period 14 seconds, meaning real groundswell energy. The combined energy is strong at 890, and the wind is a clean, light cross-offshore from the WSW, which will groom those lines perfectly. The break is exposed to the swell, and the optimum direction is NNE, so this easterly swell will wrap in nicely. It’s a solid size, so possibly a bit much for total beginners, but for anyone with a bit of experience, this is the one to aim for. The setup here is a beach and reef, so with that long period and east swell, it’ll be lining up with some proper shape.

Friday 4 September morning is another beauty. A touch smaller at 4 feet, but with a clean offshore wind from the WSW at 6 mph, and energy still strong at 590. It’s a slightly easier paddle than Thursday, and the quality will be there.

After that, the weekend (5-6 September) still has some fun waves – 3 feet with offshore winds, but the energy drops back to moderate. By Monday 7 September, it’s getting weak again. The second week is a bit of a fade-out, with more onshore wind and marginal conditions.

So, don’t bother with the first week. Mark your calendar for Thursday 3 September and Friday 4 September mornings at Chernobyl. That’s where the juice is.

Rusty.

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