Cliffs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what we’ve got for Cliffs.

The next 16 days are a mixed bag. The first week is mainly a write-off with choppy conditions and poor surf, but there’s a flicker of hope at the very end of the forecast period. We’re looking at a long wait, with a bunch of days where I wouldn’t bother paddling out.

We kick things off on Friday the 4th of September. There’s a small 4 ft swell from the east, but with a strong 22 mph cross-off breeze, it’s messy. The combined energy is moderate at 1101, but the wave comment says it’s marginal, and honestly, it’s not worth your time.

Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th are the same story – small swells around 4 ft to 5 ft, but with stiff cross-off winds. The energy drops off (709, 648, 591). Nothing exciting.

Monday the 7th sees a pulse of bigger swell – 7 ft from the southwest with a long 14-second period. The combined energy jumps right up to 2028, which is strong. But the wind shifts to a cross-shore chop in the morning and then a cross-onshore with storms in the afternoon, making it a mess. This one’s for experts only if they’re desperate, but the conditions will be poor.

Tuesday the 8th turns onshore and stormy, with 6 ft swell but ugly wind. No good.

From Wednesday the 9th right through to Friday the 18th of September, we’re in a real lull. Swells drop to between 1.0 ft and 3 ft, mostly from the south-southwest. The combined energy stays weak, often under 500, and sometimes as low as 84. The wind is mostly a fresh cross-off, so the surface might look clean, but there’s simply no power. The 14th of September has a tiny 1.0 ft swell with a very long 24-second period, giving it 203 energy, but it’s just too small to ride.

Finally, we get a glimmer on Saturday the 19th of September. The morning sees a 3 ft south-southwest swell, but the combined energy is still weak at 497. The wind becomes a light cross-off breeze (6 mph), and the wave comment says "expect good surf conditions" – a rarity in this outlook. The afternoon is better: still a small 3 ft swell from the SSW, with a 16-second period, but with a light breeze and the comment "expect very good surf conditions". The energy is still low at 535, but for this spot, that light wind will make for some clean, glassy lines. The water is a warm 81°, which is about average for this time of year.

The standout here is clearly Saturday afternoon, the 19th of September. The swell direction from the SSW is a good match for the optimum S direction, and with glassy conditions, it’ll be the cleanest wave we’ll see. It’s small, but it’s the only real window of quality. The crowd situation at Cliffs can be an issue, so expect some company if you’re out there.

For the rest of the window, it’s a tough watch. The surf is small, the energy is low, and the conditions are rarely aligned.

Stay patient. Rusty.

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