Cottons Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. It’s looking pretty quiet out there for the next couple of weeks. There’s a whole lot of nothing on the cards for most of the period, but we’ve got a couple of windows where it might just be worth a paddle.

Right off the bat, the water’s sitting at 73° which is a good 5° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a standout, for sure. You’re not going to need much more than a thin suit.

The story for the next while is small swell and onshore winds. We start on Tuesday afternoon, September 8th, at Cottons Point, but honestly, it’s a write-off. There’s a 3ft SSW swell, but it's coming in at a short 10-second period, and a 30 km/h NW cross-shore wind is just going to chop it all up. The combined energy is only 484, so it’s weak, and the call is poor surf. You’re better off staying home.

Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th are not much better. The swell drops a bit, maybe 2ft, but the period is long, around 16-17 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, so it has some push, but it's coming from the SW, and we need it from the SW optimum. The wind is cross-onshore, so it’s lumpy and bumpy. It’s marginal at best.

Friday the 11th through to Monday the 14th is a real flat spell. The swell drops to 1ft to 2ft, winds stay cross-onshore, and it's just a couple of days you’d rather spend doing something else. The combined energy drops into the 200-400 range, which is just weak.

We get a slight bump in period on the 13th, hitting 19 seconds, but it’s only 1ft of swell, so it means nothing. Also, Sunday the 13th is a new moon, but with this little swell, tides are just going to mess with what little is there.

Now, there is a bit of a lift starting from the 19th of September. Saturday the 19th morning shows a marginal call with a 3ft SW swell and a good 18-second period. The wind is light and onshore, so it’s clean-ish. The energy bumps up to 530. It’s not big, but it’s something. The period is long, which is great for a point and reef break like Cottons. Keep in mind, though, that long-period swell can go a bit straight at beach breaks, but here it should wrap in nicely.

Then, Sunday the 20th and Monday the 21st look similar. The swell stays around 3ft with a 17-second period, winds are light. The energy is pushing into the 500-600 range. It’s still small, but there’s a hint of consistency. Tuesday the 22nd has the best energy of the run, hitting 650, with a 3ft SW swell and 16-second period. The morning is a marginal call, but it’s the pick of the fortnight.

By Wednesday the 23rd, it looks like it starts to fade again, with the wind picking up and the swell easing.

So here’s the bottom line. For this first week, you’re not missing anything. The standout window is from the 19th through the 22nd, with Saturday the 19th morning and Tuesday the 22nd morning being your best bets. The waves will be small but clean, and the long period means there’s some push to them. Cottons Point is a consistent break, so it should handle it. It’s not going to be epic, but it might just scratch the itch.

Because it’s so far out, the long-range stuff is always a bit less certain, but the signs are there. The forecast could easily change, and with a break that is this consistent, it won’t stay poor for long. Keep an eye on the reports.

Rusty

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