Nanwan Beach (South Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.

We start off on Tuesday, 1st September, and honestly, it’s a bit of a rough entry. The swell is pumping hard at 12 ft from the SW, but that’s a big, powerful ocean for Nanwan Beach (South Bay). The water temperature is bang on average for this time of year at 84°. The combined energy is a massive 2112 – that’s some serious muscle. The trouble is the wind is howling out of the WSW at 12 mph, making it a choppy, cross-shore mess. The wave comment warns that the swell is too big for this break, so I’d sit this one out. The next few days are a write-off. Wednesday sees a huge 15 ft SW swell with onshore winds, and Thursday and Friday morning are still lumpy with poor conditions.

However, there’s a flicker of hope on Friday afternoon, 4th September. The wind shifts to a light cross-offshore breeze from the WSW at 9 mph, and the swell drops to a more manageable 7 ft from the SSW. The period is short at 8 seconds, so it’ll be a bit crumbly, but the conditions are clean. The combined energy is 920 – moderate, but workable. This is shaping up to be the best of the first week.

Saturday, 5th September, is a bit marginal. The morning has a light onshore wind, but the afternoon turns clean with a NE breeze at 9 mph. The swell is 6 ft from the SSW. It’s not a standout, but it’s surfable.

The true highlight of the whole forecast is Sunday, 6th September. The wind goes glassy, an absolute dead calm from the ESE at 3 mph in the afternoon. The swell is 6 ft from the SSW with an 8-second period. The combined energy is 511, and the wave comment says “expect good surf conditions.” This is the one. If you can get out there, the ocean will be like a sheet of glass, and the waves will be clean and rideable. This is the best window.

After that, the surf steadily fades. Monday, 7th September, has a 6 ft S swell, but the energy drops to 164, and the winds are light and messy. By Tuesday, 8th September, the swell is down to 2 ft, and it stays that way for the rest of the run. The whole second week, from 9th September through to 16th September, is a flat spell. The combined energy sits in the double digits most days, with a few tiny bumps of 2 ft to 3 ft but nothing worth paddling out for. The winds are clean, but there’s just no push.

So, to wrap it up: the first few days are a no-go, but Friday afternoon, 4th September, offers a window. The absolute standout is Sunday, 6th September, with glassy conditions and a fun, clean swell. After that, the taps turn off for a full week. It’s a classic case of wait for the weekend, then the ocean goes quiet.

Rusty.

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