Kilcummin Harbour Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Rusty here, checking in from the Irish coast. The surf forecast ahead is a bit of a mixed bag, with a lot of small, slow days to start and a few real standouts further out that are worth waiting for. The first few days are looking pretty ordinary, but there's some serious power on the way. Let's get into it.

The best early window looks like it's going to be Sunday the 30th of August, for a morning session at Kilcummin Harbour (reef). It's a fairly consistent spot, exposed to the north-northwest, which is what we're looking for. The swell is a clean 5ft from the west with a period of 9 seconds, not a groundswell, but it's got some moderate energy behind it (416). The wind is offshore from the south-southwest at 12 mph, making for a clean, glassy surface. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing to write home about. This is the pick of the first week, for sure. The afternoon gets a bit messier with a stronger cross-offshore wind, but the morning should be a real treat.

The real standout, though, is a long way off. On Monday the 31st of August, the morning is looking at a massive 15ft swell from the west-northwest, with a period of 11 seconds and a combined energy that's absolutely pumping (4812). That's a five-digit energy number, folks, which is huge. The wind is cross-shore, though, and the guidance says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. This is expert-only territory, and even then, it might be a bit out of control. The afternoon drops to 10ft, still huge, but still cross-offshore. The following Tuesday the 1st of September is similarly large, with a 13ft swell in the morning, but again, it's a cross-offshore wind, and the energy is still massive (2518). This setup is really more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, given the size and the wind. The wave heights are well over 8ft, so it's strictly for the experts.

After that, the swell backs off a bit, but Thursday the 3rd of September has a 6ft swell from the west in the afternoon, but the wind is a fresh cross-shore, making for a lumpy, choppy mess. It's not worth it. Friday the 4th of September has a 8ft swell in the morning, but it's cross-onshore and choppy. The following weekend is still big, but the wind is unfriendly, making it another potential kite session rather than a clean surf. The very last day, Wednesday the 9th of September, has a 8ft north-northwest swell with a light cross-shore breeze from the east at 6 mph, and it gets a score of 3. The energy is strong (1242). It's a long way off, so it's promising but less certain, but it could be the best of the second week if the wind plays ball.

So, to boil it down: your best bet is Sunday the 30th of August morning. The big swells from the 31st of August through the 5th of September are for experts only or for the kite crew. After that, there's a long gap until the 9th of September, which is a potential late-game highlight, but it's a long way out.

Rusty.

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