Harlyn Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, folks. Rusty here, and I’ve had a look at the Harlyn stretch for the next couple of weeks. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – this is a tough one. The overall pattern is a long, drawn-out period of mostly flat, messy, or blown-out conditions. We’re looking at a serious gap of surf worth talking about.

For the first several days, it’s basically a write-off. From Thursday the 20th right through to Tuesday the 25th, you’re looking at poor surf conditions with mostly onshore or cross-onshore winds. The swell is tiny, the energy is weak, and the wind is just ruining any chance of a wave. It’s a classic summer lull, and it’s not looking good.

There’s a slight flicker of hope on Wednesday the 26th. The morning sees a small 2 ft swell from the west, but more importantly, we get a clean offshore wind from the south. The combined energy is still on the low side at 109 (moderate), so it’s not going to be pumping, but it’s surfable. The afternoon gets a bit bigger, with 3 ft from the west and a light cross-offshore breeze, energy bumping up to 203 (moderate). It’s still very ordinary, but it’s the best we’ve seen.

Thursday the 27th morning is actually the standout in this whole grim outlook. The swell is 3 ft from the west, with a 10-second period, and the wind is *glassy* – dead calm from the east-southeast. The water temp is 66°, which is a whopping 4° warmer than normal, so it’s feeling like a bath. For a sheltered spot like Harlyn, that glassy morning is the only real window of clean, rideable waves. The energy is 177 (moderate), so it’s nothing special, but the conditions will make it feel better than it is. Keep in mind it’s inconsistent here, so you’ll be waiting for sets.

After that, it’s back to the grind. Friday the 28th through to the end of the forecast is a mix of strong winds, lumpy chop, and onshore slop. There’s a bigger pulse of swell around the 29th with 7 ft from the west, but it’s accompanied by a 15 mph cross-wind and a combined energy of 597 (strong). That’s a lot of water moving around, but the wind is going to make it a choppy, messy mess. That’s kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing. The 3rd of September sees a similar story – a 7 ft swell with a near-gale force 34 mph cross-offshore wind. Again, powerful but unsurfable for a normal person.

So, to sum it up: If you’re desperate, the glassy morning of Thursday the 27th is your only real shot. The rest of the 16 days is a blank run. It’s a tough spot, Harlyn, and when it’s not on, it’s really not on. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d be doing something else.

Rusty.

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