Harlyn Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, I’ve had a look at this 16-day stretch, and I’ll be straight with you – it’s a tough one. The surf window kicks off with a few pulses, but honestly, for a long while there’s not much to get excited about unless you’re desperate for a paddle. Let’s break it down.

The first real surfable action shows up on Sunday the 13th at Harlyn. We’ve got a 5ft swell rolling in from the west with a 10-second period. The combined energy of all swells directed here is sitting at a moderate 439, so there’s some push, but it’s not exactly firing. The water temp is sitting at 64°, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year – that’s a nice surprise for a late summer session. The wind is a moderate breeze from the WSW at 15 mph, blowing cross-offshore, which keeps the waves reasonably clean. It’s not a standout session by any means – the score is low and the conditions are only described as marginal – so this is really just a chance to get wet if you’re jonesing. This spot is sheltered and inconsistent, so you might be waiting around. Still, it’s the first surf on offer.

From Monday the 14th right through to Saturday the 19th, it’s a pretty grim run. The swell hangs around between 4ft and 7ft, but the winds are a problem. Mostly cross-on or cross-shore with a lumpy chop, and many of these sessions are scored as poor conditions. Even when the swell bumps up to 6ft on Wednesday morning (16th) with a long-period 11-second groundswell, the wind is a fresh cross-onshore at 19 mph, making it a messy affair. The combined energy on that Wednesday morning hits 877 – moderate wave energy – but it’s not doing anyone any favours with that wind. Not recommended for a paddle.

The real kicker comes on Sunday the 20th. We see a nice shift: the wind goes light, from the NNW at just 6 mph, and it’s blowing directly onshore, which can be tricky. But the swell is a clean 5ft from the west with a 10-second period, and the combined energy is 438. It’s still scored as poor conditions, but this is the closest we get to a clean window in the first week. If you had to pick one session, this Sunday afternoon has the most potential, though the onshore wind is a gamble.

After that, it’s a long, dry spell. From Monday the 21st onward, the swell drops off dramatically. You get a tiny pulse of 3ft on Monday morning (21st) with light offshore wind from the south at 6 mph – that’s the cleanest wind of the whole period, but the waves are tiny, with a combined energy of just 295. That’s weak energy. You might find a knee-high ripple if you’re patient, but it’s not worth the drive.

From Tuesday the 22nd right through to the end of the forecast on Monday the 28th, the swell stays below 2ft for most of it, with combined energy dipping into the double digits – as low as 42 and 48 on the 25th. That’s about as flat as it gets. There’s a little bump of 7ft on Wednesday the 23rd from the WNW with a short 7-second period, but the wind is a fresh onshore from the NNE at 19 mph, so it’ll be a washing machine. Not surfable in any meaningful way.

So here’s the bottom line: the only real window is Sunday the 13th and maybe Sunday the 20th, but neither is a true standout. The rest of the 16 days is a mix of messy, windy, or flat conditions. If you’re a beginner, the 5ft on the 13th is okay, but anything over 5ft later in the week (like the 6ft on the 16th) is more for experienced surfers, though the wind ruins it. For the second week, don’t hold your breath. It’s mostly flat with a few weak pulses.

If you’re really keen, keep an eye on the 20th – that light wind and moderate swell is your best bet, but don’t expect much.

Stay patient, lads. It’s a quiet run.

Rusty.

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