Margaret River Mouth Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s comin’ down for Margaret River Mouth over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a messy start. Thursday afternoon (September 3rd) is a write-off – 6 ft SW swell, but that 35 km/h NW cross-onshore wind is killin’ it. The water’s a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sittin’ at 65°, but that’s about the only good thing. The combined swell energy is 1609, which is moderate, but it doesn’t matter with that wind. Friday (September 4th) is no better, and Saturday (September 5th) is more of the same with rain and fresh wind. It’s a rough few days, so you’re not missin’ a thing.

Now, Sunday (September 6th) mornin’ shows a bit of a shift. The wind swings around to SSE at 30 km/h, and it’s cross-offshore, cleanin’ things up. The swell is 7 ft from the WSW, period 13 seconds, and the combined energy is 1588. That’s a moderate setup, but it’s still only marginal due to tide issues. The afternoon gets a bit more interestin’ – the swell jumps to 8 ft from the SW, and the period stretches out to 17 seconds, which is a long period groundswell. The energy jumps to 2984, solidly moderate. That long period will make the waves fuller and more powerful, but at a river mouth like this, it might break a bit straight on the banks. The wind is clean and cross-off though, so it’s got potential. Not a standout, but a glimmer.

Monday (September 7th) is similar, clean but marginal, with the swell around 6-6 ft from the SW and period at 16 seconds. The energy is 1852 in the morning, 1532 in the arvo. Still not the best, but the wind is light.

But here’s the one to circle – Tuesday morning (September 8th). This is your standout. The swell is 7 ft from the SW, period 17 seconds, and the combined energy is 2454. That’s a solid, moderate-to-strong groundswell. The wind is SE at 15 km/h, cross-offshore, and the conditions are called “clean.” The forecast says excellent surf for experienced surfers – and I’d agree. That 7 ft is a bit much for beginners, but for anyone with a bit of time in the water, this is the pick of the whole window. The long period will also mean longer waits between sets, so you’ll have time to paddle out. Crowds are “sometimes” an issue here, so you might have a few others in the water, but it’s worth it.

After that, the swell slowly drops. Wednesday (September 9th) is still fun with a 6 ft SW swell and 20 km/h NNE cross-off wind, but the energy is down to 1412. By Thursday (September 10th), it’s fading to 4 ft and the energy is weak at 516. The wind stays clean, but it’s small.

There’s a gap from Friday (September 11th) through to Monday (September 14th) where the surf is either too small, too windy, or both. Sunday (September 13th) has a 7 ft WSW swell, but that 20 km/h SW cross-onshore wind is messin’ it up, and the energy is 2239 – moderate, but wasted. The forecast is poor. Not worth paddlin’ out.

Then we get another little window. Tuesday morning (September 15th) has 6 ft from the SW, period 15 seconds, and a 15 km/h SE cross-off wind. The energy is 1492, and it’s clean. That’s a decent little session for the more experienced crew.

But the next real standout is Wednesday morning (September 16th). This is the other one to get excited about. The swell is 7 ft from the SW again, period 17 seconds, and the combined energy is 2570 – strong. The wind is NNE at 10 km/h, which is light and cross-offshore, and the conditions are called “clean” with excellent surf for experienced surfers. This is a proper long-period groundswell, and with that light wind, it’s gonna be glassy. Again, the long period might make it a bit straight at the river mouth, but the power will be there. This is the second true standout of the 16-day run.

After that, it fades out. Thursday (September 17th) is 5 ft and clean, but weak, and by Friday (September 18th) it’s down to 4 ft with messy cross-shore wind. The run ends with a whimper.

So, the best on offer is Tuesday morning (September 8th) and Wednesday morning (September 16th). Both have solid 7 ft SW groundswell, excellent wind, and clean conditions. The rest is a mixed bag of marginal, small, or windy days. If you’re keen, aim for those two mornings.

Rusty.

Read more