Chirere Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty. I’ll level with you—this stretch for Chirere is a real test of patience. The surf shows up from this Sunday the 23rd of August, but for the better part of two weeks, it’s mostly rubbish. We’ve got waves, sure, but the wind and the chop are going to keep things messy. Don't get too amped for the first week; just wait it out.

Sunday afternoon kicks off with a storm risk, wind out of the ENE at 9 mph, cross, and a weak 3ft NE swell at 6 seconds. That’s short-period slop, with only 50 units of energy behind it. Not worth suiting up for. The water’s at 83°, which is about 0.9° above the long-term average, so it’s normal for this time of year—a touch warm, but nothing crazy.

Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th are the same old story. Monday morning cleans up a bit with a cross-off breeze—the only hint of clean conditions—but the swell is still a weak 3ft at 6 seconds. Then the afternoon wind goes cross and it’s messy again. Tuesday bumps up slightly to 4ft, but the period is still short at 6 seconds, and the wind is already chopping it up. Not the Chirere we want.

The middle of the week, Wednesday the 26th through Thursday the 27th, the energy picks up—we’re seeing 145 and 144 units of combined energy—but the swell stays under 4ft and the period is stuck at 6-7 seconds. The wind stays mostly cross or cross-on, so it's never truly clean. The swell direction is ENE, which is off the preferred NNE for this reef, so it’s not lining up right.

Friday the 28th into Saturday the 29th is more of the same—weak, short-period swell, cross winds. Saturday morning clears up with a light E breeze at 6 mph, which will glass the surface, but the swell is only 3ft at 6 seconds. Surfable but very ordinary.

Then, the first real sign of life. Sunday the 30th of August, the swell pushes to 5ft out of the ENE with a 7-second period. The combined energy jumps to 218 units—now we’re talking some push. But the morning is “marginal,” and the afternoon brings a thunderstorm risk and cross winds at 12 mph. It’s a tease. Some size at Chirere, but the conditions will be rough.

The first week of September is still struggling. Monday the 31st and Tuesday the 1st keep the same formula—3ft to 4ft, short period, cross winds. By Wednesday the 2nd, the swell hits 5ft, but the wind and period keep it mushy.

Now, the one true standout. Friday the 4th of September, the swell builds to 5ft out of the ENE with a 7-second period. The combined energy hits 256 units—the strongest signal of the whole outlook. The morning is marked “marginal,” but the size is there. This is the pick of the fortnight, but keep expectations in check. It’s a bigger ENE swell, still not the optimum NNE, and still short-period. For a reef, it won’t be as lined-up as you’d hope. Intermediates should look at this, but it’s not a beginner’s day. The following morning, Saturday the 5th, offers a clean-up with a cross-off breeze, but the swell drops back to 3ft.

After that, it fades. The last few days, Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th, see the energy drop way down to 63 and 89 units, with the swell shrinking to 2-3ft. The wind actually picks up on Sunday to 16 mph, chopping it to pieces.

So here it is. Chirere is fairly consistent with waves, but the quality in this 16-day window is mostly poor. The only real standouts are Sunday the 30th for a look at some size, and that Friday the 4th of September morning as the best on offer. If you can wait, that’s your window. Otherwise, save your energy. The wind’s not playing ball.

Rusty.

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