Southport Main Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get into it. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and ordinary here at Southport Main Beach. If you're hanging for a wave, you're gonna have to be patient. The water temp is sitting right around 68°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so at least that's comfy.

We've got a long stretch of poor surf kicking off from Wednesday afternoon, August 19th, right through to Tuesday morning, September 1st. That's nearly two weeks of mostly cross-onshore wind and weak, short-period swell. The energy is low, barely cracking 100 (combined energy of all swells directed here of 241 at best, but mostly in the 60-140 range). The swell is tiny, around 1 ft to 4 ft, and that period is a short 7-8 seconds, so it's just not packing any punch. For most of that time, the wind is a cross-onshore from the SE or ESE, making things choppy and messy. There are a few fleeting moments of glassy conditions on the mornings of August 21st, 23rd, and 24th, with a tiny 3 ft to 3 ft swell from the ENE, but it's really just ankle-snappers. Those are surfable, but nothing to get excited about.

Now, the first real standout arrives on Wednesday, September 2nd, in the morning. A pulse of new swell pushes through, with a solid 6 ft from the SSE and a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy jumps up to 904 (moderate), so there's some power in the water. But here's the catch – the wind is onshore from the E, and it's described as "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions." So it's a bit of a gamble. If you're an experienced surfer, you might find a peak, but it won't be clean. The afternoon drops off to 3 ft.

The pick of the entire forecast is Thursday morning, September 3rd. We've got a 4 ft swell from the SE, with a 10-second period and a combined energy of 464 (moderate). That's a decent amount of energy. The wind is a cross-onshore from the SE, which is better than straight on, but it'll still be a bit bumpy. For Southport, with that ESE optimum swell direction, the SE swell is close enough to get some lines in. It's the biggest, most energetic window we get, but it's still not perfect. Given the consistent but poor conditions leading up to it, it's the best we've got.

So, my advice? Keep your eyes on that September 3rd morning window. Everything else is a flat, windy write-off. Forecasts can change, but right now, it's looking like a waiting game.

Rusty

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