Cobden Beach - The Channel Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, cobber, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what the ocean’s got cookin’ for Cobden Beach.

The short version: the next couple of days are a washout for us – way too much water moving around. But hold tight, because towards the end of the week and into the weekend, conditions clean right up and The Channel could be a gem. There’s a serious stretch of solid, clean swell coming in the second week, but that’s a promise from afar, so we’ll take it with a grain of salt.

Right now, the ocean is in a foul mood. Friday afternoon has a solid 8ft of west swell, and even though the wind is glass, that’s just too much juice for The Channel. The energy readings are off the charts – that’s a 4014 reading – suggesting a powerful, unruly ocean. We’ll give it a miss.

Saturday stays big and messy. Morning sees 13ft of west swell, and the wind is chopping it up. The energy is still huge. It stays heavy in the afternoon with 12ft and a moderate cross-shore breeze. It’s a washing machine out there. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, to be honest.

Sunday morning is where things start to turn. The swell drops to a manageable 5ft, the wind goes glassy from the southeast, and the water cleans right up. There’s still a lot of energy in the water – a 2318 reading – but this is the first real window for experienced surfers. The Channel can handle this, so if you’ve got the skill, this is your morning. The afternoon gets a bit iffy with a cross-onshore breeze, so make the most of the morning.

Monday morning is similar: 5ft of west-southwest swell, glassy conditions, clean faces. Another good one for those who know what they’re doing. By Tuesday, we’re down to 4ft, still glassy, and while the energy has dropped, it’s still a fun, playful size. Good chance for a longer board and a long paddle.

We get a wobbly day on Wednesday with onshore winds and lumpy conditions. Then Thursday sees the swell jump back up again, but it’s overshadowed by the coming weekend.

Now, for the standout. Sunday the 20th of September. The forecast shows a clean 13ft of west swell with light offshore winds from the east-southeast. The energy reading is massive – 5234 – and the description calls it clean for Cobden Beach – The Channel. This is the one we’ve been waiting for. That’s a proper groundswell with a long period, and it’s going to be cranking. This is a big day, for experts only. It’s a lot of water moving, so you need to know what you’re doing.

The week after that has some more potential. The 24th of September, Thursday, also looks strong with an 12ft west swell and cross-offshore winds, another big, clean day. The energy is right up there again. These are the sessions you plan your week around.

Right, water temp is sitting at 54°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so a good 4/3 will do you fine.

For the longer range, the models are showing more swell for the 23rd and 24th, but it’s over a week out, so treat it as promising, not a certainty. The 25th and 26th of September look like they could be smaller and cleaner again, in that fun 5ft range.

So, don’t go getting skunked on the big, wild days. Wait for that Sunday the 20th, and if you’re keen, the Monday after that. That’s the pick of the bunch.

Rusty, signing off.

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