Harlyn Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, gather round. Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Harlyn. I’ll be straight with you – it’s a pretty flat and messy start, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel if you’ve got the patience.

The first couple of weeks are a right-off for any decent surf. From Sunday the 23rd of August right through to the end of the month, it’s mostly tiny, weak waves with poor conditions. We’re talking ankle-snappers with cross-shore winds and chop. The combined swell energy is in the low double digits, barely a whisper at 57 (Sunday afternoon) and dropping to single digits. Water temps are sitting at 65°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so the wetsuit might feel a bit more comfortable than usual.

The first real flicker of hope comes on Thursday the 27th of August morning. We’ve got a 4ft SW swell with a short 8-second period, and the wind swings offshore from the SSW, cleaning it right up. The combined energy jumps to 223 (moderate), and it’s surfable, but it’s ordinary. Nothing to write home about, but a paddle might be worth it for the keenos.

Then there’s a stretch of poor, cross-shore slop right through to the end of August and into early September. The 31st of August sees a 5ft WSW swell, but a strong 28 mph cross-wind makes it a mess. Combined energy is 408 (strong), but the wind is just too much. Honestly, that setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The standout – and I mean the only one that’s got me a bit excited – is Sunday the 6th of September afternoon. The morning is a write-off with a 10ft WNW swell and a strong onshore wind, but by the afternoon, the wind drops to a glassy NNE breeze at just 3 mph. The swell looks solid at 10ft, with a 9-second period and a combined energy of 1346 (very strong). That’s a big, powerful groundswell. For a beach break like Harlyn, that long period means the sets will be fat and powerful, and the paddle out will be a challenge. This is expert territory only – over 8ft, so leave the foamies at home. The glassy conditions will make it look perfect, but you’ll need to earn your waves. It’s a promising call, but we’re a week and a half out, so keep an eye on the forecasts.

The Monday after that, the 7th of September, still has size (6ft to 8ft) but the wind is back up, cross-off but fresh, so it’ll be a step down again.

So, bottom line: the first week is a write-off. The second week is mostly slop. The one true standout is Sunday the 6th of September afternoon for the big, clean, expert-only waves. Don’t plan your holiday around it, but if you’re a local with a big-wave board, keep that date free.

Rusty.

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