Costa Nova Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, checking in from the beach. We’ve got a long 16-day window ahead, and I’ll be honest, it’s a tough stretch for surf. The patterns are messy, the wind is mostly wrong, and the swell is pretty weak. There’s a lot of “look but don’t touch” out there for the next ten days or so. The only real glimmer of hope comes right at the very end of the run.

We start on Monday, the 31st of August, through to the 12th of September. That’s nearly two weeks of onshore, cross-shore, and just generally choppy, lumpy conditions. The swell is small, mostly between 2 ft and 5 ft, and the wind is a constant problem. The wave energy is weak to moderate, with the highest reading being a 580 (moderate) on that first Monday, but it’s paired with a 19 mph cross-shore wind. It’s a write-off for clean surfing. You’ll see a few sessions on the 4th and 5th of September mornings where the wind drops light and goes cross-off, giving us a clean surface, but the swell is tiny at 2 ft. It’s surfable, but nothing to get excited about. The whole period is a struggle.

The one bright spot isn’t until Sunday the 13th of September. Sunday morning at Costa Nova (beach/jetty) finally gives us something to work with. We’ve got a 3 ft swell from the West, with a 9-second period, and a light cross-offshore breeze from the SSE at 9 mph. The wave energy is moderate at 216. The “expect good surf conditions” comment is the only time this whole outlook we see that. It’s clean, and the wind is finally your friend. The crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might have some company, but it’s not a zoo. For a spot that’s been getting hammered, this is your moment.

After that, it fades again. The 14th morning is glassy but tiny at 4 ft, and then the wind and chop return for the rest of the run out to the 15th. It’s a long wait, but that Sunday morning is the one to circle on the calendar.

Rusty, out.

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