Nahant Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks. Rusty here, and I’ve gotta be straight with you – this 16-day stretch for Nahant Beach is looking like a tough one. We’re staring down the barrel of a long, flat spell with nothing but tiny, weak waves and dodgy winds. It’s gonna be a test of patience.

For the first week and a half, from Wednesday the 26th of August right through to the end of the first week of September, we’re basically stuck with knee-high slop. The swell height is barely tickling 2 feet, and it’s coming from the ESE with a short, weak period of 8 seconds or less. The water’s sitting at about 68°, which is bang on normal for this time of year, so no surprises there. The wave energy is pathetic, barely hitting 87 (combined energy of all swells directed here). It’s poor surf, plain and simple. The wind is a mess too – cross-on, cross-off, a bit of onshore – none of it is doing us any favours for clean waves. You’ll see a few afternoons with a clean look, like Thursday the 27th afternoon and Friday the 28th, but with only 1 foot to 2 feet on offer, it’s a long paddle for a dribble. There’s even a massive gap of several days here where you’d be lucky to get a ride.

Now, we finally see a pulse of energy rolling in around Friday the 4th of September. The swell jumps to 6 to 6 feet from the ENE, with the wave energy climbing to 286 and then 427 (combined energy of all swells directed here). That’s a proper kick, but it comes with a heavy dose of reality. The wind is cross-on from the SE, and there’s heavy rain on the Friday afternoon. The wave comment says “poor surf conditions,” and with that wind direction, it’s going to be a choppy, bumpy mess. The period is only 7 to 8 seconds, so it’s windswell, not groundswell. This is a tough one to call a standout, but if you’re desperate for a bigger wave, that Friday afternoon is the biggest we’ll see. For the experienced crew only – 6 feet can be a handful, especially when it’s lumpy.

The following Saturday the 5th of September sees the swell drop back to 5 feet, but the wind swings hard to the NNW at a screaming 28 mph. It’s cross-off, so the face will be clean, but the power is dropping fast. The wave energy is still decent at 306 (combined energy of all swells directed here), but you’ll be battling a strong breeze and a messy cross-chop. It’s a kite surfer’s paradise, not a paddle surfer’s.

After that, it’s a slow fade into flatness again. By Sunday the 6th, the wind is howling from the NNE at 31 mph, completely blowing out the 4-foot swell. After that, it’s back to tiny, weak waves for the rest of the forecast.

So, the only two days that even hint at something worth paddling out for are Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th of September. But with the wind and rain, it’s a real gamble. For the rest of the 16 days, you’re better off cleaning the wax off your board. The consistent nature of the break means it tends not to stay this poor for long, but this run is a blank one. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a hard pass.

Rusty.

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