Nanwan Beach (South Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break down what’s coming for Nanwan Beach over the next couple of weeks.

Right now, the outlook is pretty grim. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor surf conditions that runs through the first week, with hardly a moment worth paddling out for. The beginning of the period is all about messy cross-off winds and small, weak swell. The combined energy of all swells directed here is only 187 (moderate) on the Saturday morning, but the wind is up around 19 mph from the WNW, making it cross-off and choppy. The swell is just 4 ft from the SW, with a short period of 8 seconds, so it’s not holding together. It’s clean but not surfable in any meaningful way.

The pattern doesn’t get much better all the way through the following week. We’ve got a few days where the wind goes light and offshore, like Monday morning on the 7th of September, when a NNW wind at 6 mph brings offshore conditions and a 3 ft SSW swell with a period of 9 seconds, but the energy is only 144 (moderate) and the waves are just ordinary. The water temperature anomaly is about average for the time of year, so nothing special there.

The standout in this whole 16-day window is going to be Friday the 18th of September, in the morning. That’s when we get a bit of hope. The wind will be light from the NE at 6 mph, so cross-off but clean, and the swell is 4 ft from the E with a 10-second period. The combined energy is 277 (moderate), and the forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” That’s the best we’ll see. The swell direction is close to the optimum from the SE, so it’s a decent setup for the beach and reef. However, it’s a bit of a wait, and with only a score of 2 out of 10 internally, it’s not a world-class day, but it’s the only one that’s promising.

The rest of the period is mostly small, weak, and blown out. The weekend after that, the 19th and 20th, the glassy conditions return but the swell is tiny—2 ft and 2 ft—so it’s an ankle-snapper at best. The crowds at Nanwan Beach are often an issue, but with this level of surf, it’s unlikely to be packed.

So, bottom line: this is a long dry spell. The first week is a write-off. The 18th of September morning is your only real shot, and even then, keep expectations modest. If you’re desperate, you might get a solo session on the 7th morning, but it’s thin. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty

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