Southport Main Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Southport Main Beach over the next couple of weeks.

Well, I’ll be honest with you, it’s a pretty quiet stretch ahead. The first week or so is a write-off. We’ve got a persistent run of moderate breezes from the SSE, SE, and ESE, all blowing across the swell or onshore, which is just churning the surface up. The wave energy is there but it’s weak to moderate – we’re seeing values like 122 and 284, but it’s all messy and lumpy. The swell is mostly short-period, around 6 to 8 seconds, coming from the SE and ESE, which isn’t doing this exposed beach any favours. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The first real flicker of hope comes on Saturday the 22nd of August in the morning. A light NW wind swings in, giving us a clean, cross-off breeze. The swell is a small 4 ft from the east, but it’s surfable – just very ordinary. You’d get a few closeouts, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a while.

Things get interesting late in the forecast. On Wednesday the 26th of August, we get a proper offshore wind from the WSW in the afternoon, cleaning everything up. The swell is tiny, only 0.7 ft, but the period is a very long 16 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell pulse. The wave energy is low (62), so it’s not going to be a big day, but if you’re on a log, you might find a few long, slow lines. The offshore wind will make it look pretty.

Then, the standout of the whole outlook is Monday the 31st of August. The morning looks glassy – flat calm, no wind at all. We’ve got a 5 ft swell from the ENE with a period of 8 seconds and the wave energy is moderate (313). The guidance says “expect good surf conditions,” and I’d agree. This is the one to circle. The glassy conditions, combined with a decent size, should offer clean, fun waves. The swell direction is close to the optimum ESE, so it’s a good angle for this beach. Just be aware, with a 5 ft swell, it’s a bit much for total beginners, but it’s solid for everyone else. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so be ready for a few others out.

The rest of the second week is a mix of tiny swells and offshore winds, but nothing that really gets the heart pumping. The 29th of August morning is glassy, but the swell is only 3 ft with a short 6-second period, so it’s tiny and weak.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a dud, Saturday the 22nd gives a tiny clean window, and the absolute best bet is the glassy morning of Monday the 31st of August. That’s the one to save the energy for.

Rusty.

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