Cobden Breakwater Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a wild 16-day window ahead – a whole lot of power but a real fight with the wind. The standout window is later in the run, and it’s a beauty if you’ve got the patience.

The first week is a write-off, honestly. Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st are a total no-go: we’re looking at solid 10ft to 16ft of WSW to W swell, but it’s being hammered by onshore winds of 15 to 25 mph and rain. The combined energy is extreme, reading 2261 on Sunday, climbing to 5996 on Monday, but with conditions like that, it’s just a washing machine. That trend keeps going right through Tuesday the 1st of September, with 12ft to 13ft of wind-affected swell – just ugly. Wednesday the 2nd is still marginal; the swell drops to 7ft but wind is still onshore or cross, with a combined energy of 1567 – it’s not the one.

Now, Thursday morning the 3rd of September – this is your first real glimmer. It’s glassy, dead calm wind from the west, with a 10ft WSW swell, 10-second period and combined energy of 1565. The forecast says excellent surf for experienced surfers. That 10ft is a proper expert wave, no place for learners. The afternoon turns cross-shore and the quality drops, so that morning session is the only shot that day.

Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th are back to poor, with mounting swell up to 13ft and howling onshore winds – total mess. Keep the board in the car.

Then we get to what I reckon is the best of the whole outlook. Sunday the 6th of September. The morning is a bit small at 6ft but the wind is a clean, cross-off NNE breeze at 9 mph. Combined energy is a massive 4445, which is a lot of juice. But it’s the afternoon that’s the real score: 12ft of WNW swell with the same clean cross-off wind blowing 19 mph. The combined energy jumps to 2495 and the notes say wind and tide are perfect, though the swell is big for the break. At 12ft, this is strictly for the experienced crew. The (Region_URL) is Cobden. The water temp anomaly isn’t given, but it’s about average for the time of year.

Monday the 7th of September morning still has that big 12ft W swell with 14-second period and combined energy of 4635, but the wind turns onshore, so it’s messy. The afternoon cleans up with a cross-off northerly, dropping to 10ft – still a big wave.

Tuesday the 8th of September is another one for experts only. 16ft of WNW swell in the morning with a combined energy of 5354. Wind is light cross-onshore, so it’s not pristine, but the energy is insane. The afternoon holds at 15ft.

From Wednesday the 9th of September things start to drop off. The swell remains big (13ft to 8ft) but the wind is onshore or strong cross-onshore through the 10th and 11th, with combined energy readings still well over 1000 – just a lot of white water.

Saturday the 12th of September morning is a nice surprise. Clean, cross-off ESE breeze, 7ft W swell with an 11-second period and combined energy of 1373. The forecast says excellent conditions for experienced surfers. It’s not the biggest of the window, but the quality is right.

Sunday the 13th of September morning is the real sweet spot for the less experienced. Swell drops to 3ft of WSW groundswell with a very long 16-second period. Combined energy is a moderate 803. And the wind is off – a light ENE breeze, making it glassy clean. This is a proper long-period groundswell, so it’ll wrap in nicely and the sets will have some push but keep the paddling manageable.

Monday the 14th of September morning the energy is down around 614 with 4ft of W swell, but 12 mph onshore wind spoils it.

To sum it up: the best of the best is Sunday the 6th of September afternoon – clean, powerful, expert-only. If you want a tamer but still quality session, Sunday the 13th of September morning with that clean, long-period groundie is your pick. The rest is mostly a battle with the wind.

Rusty.

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