Kilcummin Harbour Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, I’ve had a look at the charts for here, and to be honest, it’s a bit of a mixed bag, if not a frustrating one. Kilcummin Harbour is a reef setup, and it’s exposed to the swell, but the timing and conditions are going to be a real test of patience. Let’s break it down.

We’re kicking off with a solid pulse of swell, but it’s coming with a lot of wind. Saturday the 25th of July, you’re looking at a 10-foot swell from the WNW, with a 10-second period. That’s a lot of water moving, and the combined energy is a hefty 1676, which is a proper strong event. But the wind is a cross-off from the WSW at 15 mph. It’s clean, but the forecast says “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions.” It’s there, but it’s not a gimme. Sunday the 26th is worse, with the same size swell but a fresh cross-breeze at 18 mph, making for a lumpy, cross-chop. That’s a write-off.

The best bet in the near term is likely Monday the 27th. The swell drops to a still-juicy 7 feet from the WNW (10-second period), and the combined energy is a strong 1098. The wind is a clean cross-off from the SW at 12 mph. It’s still a “marginal” call, but that’s the cleanest it’s going to be for a while. Tuesday the 28th morning has a 5-foot swell from the W with a 9-second period, and importantly, it’s an offshore wind from the SSW at 12 mph. The energy is moderate at 476, and the forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s about as close to a standout as we get in this first week, but the afternoon goes to hell with a fresh 18 mph cross-off.

After that, the surf drops off a cliff. From Wednesday the 29th through to the 2nd of August, it’s mostly under 3 feet and onshore, with periods of glassy conditions but no real swell. The water temperature here is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual.

There is a long-range glimmer, but it’s a promise, not a certainty. On Saturday the 8th of August, we see a new pulse of 5-foot swell from the N, with a 10-second period and a combined energy of 545. The wind is a light cross-on from the NW, so it’s not perfect, but it’s the best looking set of numbers in the second week. The morning of the 9th is small and clean, but that’s about it.

The crowd profile here is “sometimes” busy, so it’s not a secret spot, but with the forecast being so marginal, I doubt you’ll be fighting for a peak. This is a reef, so the longer period swells (like the 10-11 second stuff) will have more shape than the short-period junk. The 10-foot swells are for experienced surfers only; it’s over 8 feet, so keep the beginners on the beach. Honestly, with the wind and the conditions, if you’re a kite surfer, you might have more fun on the bigger, windier days than a paddle surfer will.

Rusty.

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