Dumps Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

We’re kicking off this outlook with a bit of a slow start, but there’s some real quality brewing if you’ve got the experience. The first few days are a bit messy, but from Wednesday morning, we start seeing some cleaner conditions for the more capable surfers out there.

The big story early on is the pulse of solid 10ft swell from the SW that’s already in the water on Tuesday, but it’s a bit of a mix. Tuesday morning at Dumps is seeing a 10ft SW swell with a 13-second period, so there’s plenty of energy (combined energy of 2639). The wind is a light cross-shore, so it’s not a total write-off, but the water is a very unusual 56°F—that’s 4°F colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll need a thick wetsuit. It’s a real standout for size, but the conditions are only marginal. Tuesday afternoon stays big with the same 10ft SW swell (energy 3415), but the wind picks up to a gentle breeze, adding a bit of chop, so it’s not the cleanest.

Now, Wednesday morning (2nd September) is where it gets interesting. We’ve still got that 10ft SW swell (energy 3169), but the wind swings to a light cross-offshore breeze, and the surf is reported as clean. This is a solid, powerful 10ft wave with excellent conditions for experienced surfers. This is a top pick for the early part of the forecast. The afternoon sees the wind go cross-shore again, so it drops off a bit.

Thursday morning (3rd September) brings a slight drop in size to 8ft from the S, with a shorter 9-second period (energy 1754). The wind is a gentle cross-offshore, keeping it clean. This is still a solid wave, definitely in the expert zone, but that shorter period means it might be a bit more crumbly. Thursday afternoon, the wind cranks up to 25 mph from the SE, completely ruining the surf.

Friday (4th September) through to Saturday (5th September) sees the swell drop right off to under 3ft, so it’s a real down period with very ordinary conditions. Sunday (6th September) morning, the swell builds back to 5ft from the SW, but with a very long 15-second period (energy 1632) and a light offshore wind. This is clean and will have proper energy, but that long period might make it a bit straight at the beach.

The next real standout is Thursday, 10th September. The morning session is looking glassy with a light offshore wind, clean 7ft swell from the WSW at a 15-second period (energy 1911). The afternoon is even better, with a 8ft swell from the same direction (energy 2061) and a clean, light cross-offshore wind. This is excellent surf, but it’s a big wave for experienced surfers only. This is the best on offer in the whole outlook.

For the rest of the second week, it’s a mix of moderate sized swell (4ft to 6ft) with generally clean but often cross-off winds. Nothing will match that Thursday 10th September session. The crowds at Dumps are indicated as possible, so don’t expect total solitude.

So, to sum it up: the best windows are Wednesday morning (2nd September) for a solid, powerful 10ft set, and especially Thursday, 10th September, for the glassy, clean 7ft to 8ft swell. If you’re a beginner, this whole period is too big or too unpredictable for you. The water is going to be unusually cold, so dress for it.

Rusty.

Read more