Kawana Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks at Kawana Beach are mostly a write-off. We’ve got a long, dry spell of nothing worth paddling out for, stretching from now all the way through to the middle of the month. The energy is just pathetic, and the wind is all over the shop. But hang in there, because there is one tiny window right at the tail end that might just save our sanity.

Kicking off Thursday morning, September 3rd, we’ve got tiny 1ft easterly swells with a 9-second period and a combined energy of only 52 – that’s weak, mate. The water’s 68° and a bit colder than usual for this time of year. The morning has a light cross-offshore breeze from the NNW, so it’s clean, but honestly, it’s just surfable, nothing more. That afternoon, the wind swings around and picks up, turning it into a messy cross-shore mess with onshore chop. Don’t bother.

Friday the 4th offers a glimmer in the morning – 1ft easterly swell, glassy conditions with a light ESE breeze. The combined energy is a measly 48. It’s clean, but so small you’ll be doing more floating than riding. That afternoon, the cross-onshore wind chops it up again.

Saturday the 5th is a dead loss. Morning is glassy but with a pathetic 1.0ft swell and only 27 units of energy. You’d be better off at the pub. The afternoon kicks up a messy northerly wind that just ruins what little wave there is.

From there, it’s grim. Sunday the 6th through to Tuesday the 15th of September is a long, painful stretch. The swell never gets over 3ft most days, and when it does get a pulse, like on Tuesday the 8th with 5ft to 7ft SE swell, the wind is a fresh cross-onshore at 19 mph, creating lumpy, poor surf. The combined energy hits 396 in the afternoon on the 8th, which is moderate, but it’s all slop. The same story repeats – bigger swell, but onshore wind ruins it. Wednesday the 9th, Thursday the 10th, and Friday the 11th all see similar setups: SE/ESE swell from 4ft up to 6ft, but strong, cross-onshore winds and rainy conditions. The wave comment says it all – “poor surf conditions.” For the beach break here, with that wind and chop, this setup looks far more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Even the mornings that are clean, like Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th, have tiny 2ft to 3ft easterly swells and combined energy below 100. Ordinary.

Now, here’s the standout – Friday the 18th of September. That afternoon, we finally get something to talk about. Kawana Beach picks up a 7ft south-easterly swell with a 7-second period and a combined energy of 421 – that’s a solid pulse! The wind is offshore from the west, then swings cross-offshore from the north, which will keep it clean. The wave comment says “expect good surf conditions,” and I’m feeling it. This is the best on offer in the whole 16-day window. It’s a bigger swell, over 8ft? No, it’s 7ft, but at that size, it’s going to be punchy – best for experienced surfers. The period is short though, at 7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit crumbly and won’t have that long, drawn-out line, but with the right wind, it’ll still be fun. If you can wait, that Friday arvo is your go.

The morning of Friday the 18th is worth a mention too – 5ft SE swell with a light offshore westerly, clean, but the energy is only 125, so it’s not as punchy. Still, a good warm-up for the afternoon.

So, bottom line: the next two weeks are a flat, windy mess. Save your energy for Friday the 18th of September, especially the afternoon. That’s the one that’s got me excited.

Rusty.

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