Coolum Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Wednesday, September 16 – Kicking off with poor conditions. The morning has a bit of clean 0.7m at Coolum Beach (Sunshine Coast) but the swell is short period and the wind is a cross-offshore mess. The wave comment says it all: poor surf conditions. The combined swell energy is weak at 44. The water temp is 20.6°, about a degree colder than normal for this time of year, which you’ll feel in the early session.

Thursday, September 17 – A bit more size, 2.1m, but it’s short-period and the conditions are just as bad. Morning looks clean on the surface but the wave quality is marginal at best. The energy is moderate at 757, but that’s not helping with the period at only 9 seconds. This is not the day for beginners – 2.1m is already pushing it. If you’re an experienced surfer, you might find a lumpy one, but it’s a lot of push for poor shape.

Friday, September 18 – Now we’re talking a bit. The morning has 1.4m of swell, period 8 seconds, with light offshore cross-off winds – that’s the standout window. The energy is moderate at 234 and the surf comment says "expect good surf conditions." This is your best bet for a clean, proper surf in the short term. But it won't last – the afternoon turns to cross-onshore and the size drops.

Saturday, September 19 – A big let down after Friday. The morning has a tiny 0.9m with glassy conditions – smooth surface but almost no power. The swell direction is SE, but it’s weak. This is one for the log or the longboard. The energy is weak at 107. The afternoon is a complete dud – onshore, dropping to 0.8m.

Sunday, September 20 – The surf drops off a cliff. We’re looking at 0.5m in the morning and the energy is pathetic at 34. The wind is light and cross-shore, but there is just no swell. Not worth paddling out.

Monday, September 21 – Shit. Completely flat. 0.1m in the morning with a 20-second period, which sounds cool but there's no height. The energy is down to 27. The afternoon is the same – barely a ripple. This is a full-on no-surf day.

Tuesday, September 22 – Still dead. 0.1m again. Period 12 seconds, but zero push. The energy is 7 – the weakest I’ve seen. The ocean is a lake. Don't even bother.

Wednesday, September 23 – Still poor. A slight bump up to 0.4m in the morning but it’s cross-onshore and choppy. No good. Energy is at 27.

Thursday, September 24 – We get a little bump in size – 0.9m in the morning and 1.3m in the afternoon – but the wind is cross-onshore and it's messy. The energy is moderate at 140 in the morning, 244 in the afternoon, but it’s poor surf. This one's a miss.

Friday, September 25 – The swell is coming up – 1.6m in the morning, 1.8m in the afternoon – but the wind is cross-onshore and the conditions are choppy. The energy is moderate at 298 and 395, but it's not clean. Just onshore chop. Not surfable in a good way.

Saturday, September 26 – Rain showers and cross-onshore winds. 1.6m in the morning, but it’s a washing machine. The energy is moderate at 282 but the surface is chopped up. Not good.

Sunday, September 27 – The biggest swell of the period starts to push through – 2.1m in the morning and afternoon – but the wind is cross-onshore and it’s raining. The energy is strong at 638. 2.1m at this beach with onshore winds is going to be a messy, unsurfable closeout. For beginners, this is way too big. For experts, it’s still going to be a battle. Better to sit this one out unless you like getting worked.

Monday, September 28 – Similar story. 2.2m of east-northeast swell, 9-second period, and cross-onshore winds. The energy is up to 843 – strong. But it's all chop. The morning is rain and the afternoon is a bit better but still onshore. The wave quality just isn't there.

Tuesday, September 29 – The swell drops a touch – 1.7m in the morning, 1.6m in the afternoon – but it's still cross-onshore and messy. The energy is moderate at 513 and 452. Still not worth it.

Wednesday, September 30 – The last day of the meaningful swell. 1.6m in the morning with onshore winds, then the afternoon is more of the same. The energy is moderate but the conditions are poor. It's a mushy, onshore mess.

Thursday, October 1 – The swell is holding at 1.6m, but the morning is cross-shore and the afternoon turns onshore with moderate winds. The energy is moderate but the surf is poor quality. This is a downer for the start of October.

So, in summary – if you can get out on Friday the 18th or Saturday the 19th in the morning, you might get a couple of clean ones. Everything else is either flat or a washout. The swell we get at the end of the month comes with too much wind to be any good. Longer period groundswell tends to break too straight at beach breaks like this, so even if there’s size, it’s going to be tricky. But that’s the nature of it. Keep an eye on the charts – it might clean up, but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty out.

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