Cliffs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a long stretch ahead, but don’t go expecting perfection. We’re looking at Cliffs – a beach and reef setup, exposed to the south swell, and it’s a consistent break. The water temp is sitting at 81°, which is pretty much average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The problem is, for the first week and a half, the wind is a real bastard. Mostly a fresh cross-off from the ENE, but the swell is small and the energy is all over the place. It’s not doing us any favours. The real story here is the wind. It’s a constant breeze, 19 to 28 mph, and while it’s cross-off, it’s just too strong for the tiny waves to hold any shape. The swell hovers around 3 ft to 4 ft, coming from the S/SSW, with periods dropping from 18 seconds down to 13 seconds. The combined energy is moderate at best, with values like 364 (moderate energy) early on, but it’s just not enough to overcome the chop. The marginal surf comments and the zero scores tell the truth – this is a tough stretch. There’s a risk of thunderstorms on the 16th (Sunday) which just adds to the mess.

Then, we hit Monday the 17th of August. There’s a brief window. Monday morning shows a little pulse of 3 ft from the south at 14 seconds, combined energy of 451 (moderate), and the wind eases to a gentle 9 mph cross-off from the ENE. That’s the cleanest we’ll see for a while, and the “expect good surf conditions” call backs it up. It’s not a big swell, but it’ll be rideable and clean. That’s your best bet in the first week.

After that, it’s back to the same story – fresh breeze, small swell, and poor conditions through to the 22nd. The energy drops to weak values like 172 (weak energy) on the 18th, and the swell barely makes it to 2 ft. Honestly, it’s a bit of a desert.

Now, things start to look a little more promising around Saturday the 22nd of August afternoon. The swell picks up a bit to 2 ft from the S, but with a long period of 19 seconds, the combined energy jumps to 465 (moderate). The wind is still a moderate cross-off from the NE, so it’s clean. The long period makes it a bit more of a groundswell, which is better for a reef/point setup like this, but it can make it a bit straight at times. It’s marginal, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a while.

Then, the real standout is Monday the 24th of August. The morning shows a jump in swell to 3 ft from the S at 18 seconds, with energy hitting 791 (strong). It’s a fresh ENE cross-off, so it’s clean. The afternoon gets even bigger, with 3 ft from the S at 14 seconds, and energy maxing out at 828 (strong). That’s the most energy we’ve seen in the whole window. The wind is still fresh, but the swell is pushing through. This is your best bet for the second week, but it’s still a ‘marginal’ call, so keep an eye on it.

Tuesday the 25th of August morning is also worth a mention. Swell is 4 ft from the S at 16 seconds, energy of 892 (strong). That’s the biggest swell of the forecast, but it’s also borderline for beginners – over 5 ft? No, it’s 4 ft, so still okay for most. But the wind is picking up again to a moderate to strong breeze, so it’ll be a battle.

Bottom line: The first week is a write-off. There’s a tiny clean window on the 17th morning, but it’s small. The second week has more energy, with the 24th and 25th of August offering the best chance for a decent session, but the wind is always a factor. This is a spot that needs the wind to cooperate, and it’s just not happening for long stretches. Given the consistent nature of the break, it’ll turn around eventually, but not this week.

Stay patient, and keep your eyes on the 24th.

Rusty.

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