Kilcummin Harbour Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at what’s on offer for the local stretch around Kilcummin Harbour. It’s a reef setup, and it’s fairly consistent, but the next week and a bit is going to test our patience a little.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first few days, from Monday the 31st of August right through to Wednesday the 2nd of September, are a real mixed bag of mediocrity. The swell is hanging around that 3 ft to 6 ft mark, but it’s mostly short period, wind-affected chop, and the wind is all over the shop. Monday morning has a 12 mph cross-shore that’s just messing things up. The combined energy is weak to moderate at best (425), and it’s just not doing the reef any favours. We’re looking at a few days of “maybe if you’re desperate” surf.

Then we get a little flicker of hope on Thursday the 3rd of September. The swell builds to 6 ft in the morning, and then hits 8 ft in the afternoon from the west with a 10-second period. The combined energy jumps right up to 1584, and the wind is a clean cross-offshore. That’s a big step up. The afternoon session is looking like the pick of the first week, with clean lines and some proper push. It’s getting into that intermediate-to-strong territory, so it’s not for the groms, but it’ll be a good one.

Now, Friday the 4th of September is a write-off. A massive 18 ft swell from the WNW with a 13-second period, but it’s getting hammered by a 25 mph cross-shore wind. The combined energy is a wild 10225, but it’s a total mess. It’s going to be a washing machine out there. That sort of power and wind is more of a kitesurfer’s dream than a paddle surfer’s.

The weekend clears up a bit. Saturday the 5th of September has a cleaner 8 ft from the WNW in the morning, with a gentle 9 mph cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy is strong at 1245, and the waves will have some shape. It’s a much better bet than Friday. Sunday the 6th is a drop-off in size, but we get a fresh offshore wind from the SSE, so the 4 ft to 5 ft swell will be groomed and clean. It’s a different kind of day, but a good one for a longboard.

Looking further out, the highlight of the entire forecast is shaping up for Tuesday the 8th of September. We’ve got a solid 8 ft swell from the west, with a 9 to 10-second period, and a clean offshore wind from the south. The combined energy is strong (1180, then 1267 in the afternoon). That’s proper surf. The break handles the size well, and with that offshore wind, it’s going to be hollow and clean. This is the standout session. The only word of caution is that with a clean, strong swell, this spot can get crowded, so you’ll want to be early.

After that, the swell fades fast. Wednesday the 9th is still surfable in the morning, but the wind gets strong again, and by Thursday the 10th, it’s all gone. There’s a big gap from the 10th right through to the 15th of September where the swell is tiny, under 3 ft, and the energy is weak. It’s a flat spell. The last day we see, Tuesday the 15th of September, gets a little bump back up to 4 ft from the west with a 11-second period, and the combined energy is building back to 351. The wind is light, so it’s a sign of life. It’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it, but it’s promising.

So, to sum it up: the best bet is the afternoon of Thursday the 3rd of September, and the absolute standout to circle on your calendar is Tuesday the 8th of September. That’s the one.

Rusty.

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