Chirimena Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks at Chirimena are going to test your patience more than your surfing. This is a beach and reef set-up, fairly consistent, but the combo of wind and average swell means we’re mostly looking at ordinary, choppy conditions. The water’s sitting at 82°F, which is dead on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first few days are pretty grim. Monday the 17th kicks off with a 4ft NE swell, only 7 seconds of period, and a cross-on breeze – the waves are there, but they’re messy. The combined energy is a weak 230. Honestly, not worth suiting up for anything more than a paddle.

Tuesday morning the 18th is a slight step up. The swell drops to 2ft, but the wind swings ESE as a light cross-off, so it cleans up nicely. The energy drops right off to 66, which is weak, but you might find a fun little wave if you’re desperate. Afternoon goes downhill again with a cross-on and thunderstorm risk.

Wednesday the 19th morning has a similar vibe – 3ft NE swell, clean with the ESE cross-off. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. The energy is only 80, so it’s weak. You’ll be scratching for waves, not riding them.

Then we hit a proper flat-ish patch. From Wednesday afternoon through to Friday morning, it’s all cross-shore winds, 2ft to 4ft swell, and poor surf conditions. The energy starts to build a bit – Friday morning hits 149 – but the wind just ruins it.

Friday afternoon the 21st is interesting. Swell holds at 4ft from ENE, period 7 seconds, but the energy jumps to 273. The cross-on wind is still there, but the power is picking up. Still not clean, though.

The weekend is more of the same – Saturday and Sunday bring 3ft to 5ft NE swell, cross and cross-on winds, lots of chop. Energy sits in the low-to-mid 100s. Not good.

Monday the 24th is a write-off – thunderstorms, small swell, poor conditions. But then Tuesday the 25th morning throws a curveball. The swell is only 3ft, but the period jumps to 12 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell. The energy is 291, which is moderate. The wind is light and cross-shore, so there are little ripples, but this is the first glimpse of something real. It’s marginal at best, with questionable tide conditions, but that long period is a hint.

Wednesday the 26th morning is the standout. We get 5ft of NE swell, 7-second period, but the ESE cross-off wind keeps it clean. The combined energy is a solid 397 – that’s moderate-to-strong. This is the one morning in the whole run that looks genuinely good. Not huge, but clean, and the Chirimena sand and reef will handle it nicely. Get in the water early because the afternoon cross-on will chop it up.

After that, Thursday the 27th morning has 5ft ENE swell but the cross-shore wind returns. Energy is 219, but it’s bumpy. Not worth it.

The rest of the run up to the 1st of September is bleak. Mostly 3ft to 5ft swell, cross and cross-on winds, weak-to-moderate energy, and lots of poor surf conditions. There’s a brief moment on the 29th morning with a 5ft swell and light cross-shore wind, but it’s still not clean.

The best bet in this whole window is Wednesday the 26th morning. It’s the only morning with decent size, clean wind, and solid energy (397). Everything else is a fight against the chop. If you can’t make that, maybe wait for the next cycle. For the most part, this looks like one for the kites, not the paddles – lots of wind, cross-shore, and bumpy surf.

Keep your expectations low and your wax fresh.

Rusty.

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