Irmas/Leftpoint Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Irmas/Leftpoint. It’s a reef break, fairly consistent, and it’s exposed to the swell. The water is sitting at 81°, which is about normal for this time of year.

Honestly, it’s a bit of a rough start. We’ve got a solid 16-day window ahead, but the first week and a half is not looking good. The wind is a persistent cross or cross-onshore from the ENE, blowing at 18 to 25 mph, and it’s just making a mess of things. The swell is there, mostly around 5 ft to 8 ft from the E or ENE, but it’s short period, only 6 to 8 seconds, with weak to moderate energy. The wave comment is “poor surf conditions” across the board, so from Monday 24th August right through to the start of September, it’s a write-off. There’s a long gap here with no real recommendations.

We start to see a glimmer of hope on Thursday 3rd September. The swell from the E picks up period to 14 seconds, and the energy jumps up. The wind is still cross-shore from the ENE at 18 mph, so it’s lumpy, but it’s now “marginal” rather than poor. Then on Friday 4th September, the morning looks like the best of the whole run. The swell is 7 ft from the ENE with a 14-second period, and the combined energy is strong. The wind drops to 15 mph ENE, still cross-shore, but it’s a “moderate breeze” and the description changes to “moderate cross-shore with a cross-chop.” That’s the standout. It’s still not perfect, but it’s the most powerful and promising day. The afternoon backs off a bit.

The next couple of days, Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th September, are marginal again with 6 ft to 6 ft ENE swell, 12-second period, and decent energy, but the wind stays fresh and cross-shore. Nothing to get too excited about.

Then we get a real curveball on Monday 7th September. The wind goes light – a gentle breeze from the NE at 6 mph, and the swell is a tiny 2 ft from the SSW, but with a very long 15-second period. The energy is weaker, but the wind is light and the conditions are “light cross-shore with small crossing wind ripples.” The score even bumps up. For a reef break, that long period might actually make it a bit tricky, but it’s the cleanest window we see.

And the final day of the forecast, Tuesday 8th September, has a 8 ft ENE swell but with a light 6 mph wind from the S, becoming offshore from the ESE in the afternoon. The morning is cross-onshore but light, and the afternoon goes offshore with 7 ft ENE swell. The energy is moderate. It’s a promising end, but still only marginal.

So, to cut a long story short: the first week is a no-go thanks to the wind. The true standout is Friday 4th September morning for the biggest, most powerful swell of the period. The second-best is the clean, light wind window on Monday 7th September, even if it’s small. Keep your eyes on the forecast, because it might change, but for now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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