Depressions Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get stuck into what’s happening at Depressions. It’s a bit of a slow burn for the next couple of weeks, so don’t get your hopes up too high.

The overall pattern is one of small, weak swells with a lot of cross-onshore wind mucking things up. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing to write home about.

We kick off on Thursday, September 3rd, but it’s a real nothing-burger. First thing in the morning, we’ve got a tiny 2 ft SW swell, with a super long 15-second period, which usually means nice lines, but the wind is onshore from the WSW at 6 mph. The combined energy is weak (246), and the forecast says it’s poor. That afternoon is just as bad, with a 1 ft SSW swell, cross-on wind doubling to 12 mph, and the energy is a bit higher at 316 but still weak. It’s choppy and messy.

Friday, September 4th, has a slightly better morning. Swell picks up to 3 ft from the SSW, still that long 17-second period, and the wind is light onshore from the SW at just 3 mph. Combined energy is moderate (523), and the report calls it marginal. It’s not great, but that early session might be the best you’ll see for a few days. The afternoon goes back to poor with cross-on wind.

The weekend (Sept 5-6) is all marginal stuff. Saturday morning has a 2 ft SW swell with a 15-second period and light cross-on wind. Energy is moderate (303). Sunday morning sees a 3 ft SSE swell, offshore wind from the SW at 6 mph, and energy of 512. It’s still marginal, but if you’re desperate, that’s the cleanest window of the whole stretch.

Monday, September 7th, the morning is the same story – 4 ft S swell, offshore wind, moderate energy (464), but it’s only marginal. The afternoon gets messy with cross-on wind again.

We hit a real dry spell from Tuesday, September 8th, through to Wednesday, September 16th. That’s over a week of almost nothing. The swells stay tiny, mostly under 3 ft, and the wind is almost always cross-onshore or onshore. There’s a brief moment on Wednesday, September 9th, where the afternoon swell jumps to 5 ft from the WNW, but the period is a pathetic 6 seconds and the wind is howling cross-on at 16 mph. That’s not surfing, that’s a washing machine. Even the bigger 7 ft WNW swell on Thursday, September 10th afternoon is ruined by a 22 mph cross-shore wind. This setup is honestly more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The only real glimmer of hope comes right at the end. Early on Thursday, September 17th, we see a tiny 1 ft SW swell, but check out the period – 22 seconds. That’s a very long groundswell, and combined energy is moderate (295). The wind is light and onshore from the SW. It’s marginal, but for a point break or reef, that long period and small size could actually produce a few clean, fun waves. It’s a long way off, so don’t bank on it, but it’s the only thing that looks promising.

Honestly, for the next 16 days, Depressions is a tough call. The only time I’d even bother paddling out is the early mornings on Friday the 4th, Sunday the 6th, or maybe that far-off Thursday the 17th. And even then, keep your expectations low.

Rusty.

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