Nanwan Beach (South Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s headed our way for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, I’ve gotta be straight with you – the outlook for Nanwan Beach (South Bay) is a pretty brutal one for a while. We’re looking at a solid week of messy, blown-out conditions before anything even comes close to being rideable. The first recommendation doesn't kick in until Saturday the 25th, so that’s a long stretch of nothing worth paddling out for.

For the first week, from Wednesday the 15th right through to Friday the 24th, it’s just a run of poor surf. The swell is hanging around between 3 ft and 8 ft, but it’s all coming from the SW or SSW with a short period of 5 to 9 seconds, so it’s weak and disorganised. The real killer is the wind – it’s cross or cross-onshore for most of it, often a moderate to fresh breeze, and the risk of thunderstorms is hanging around for the first week too. That means lumpy, choppy, and just plain ugly. The combined wave energy sits anywhere from 77 to 846, so it’s mostly weak to moderate, but with that wind, it’s all for nothing.

Then, on Saturday the 25th, things finally turn a corner. It’s still not *good*, but it’s surfable. The swell drops to 4 ft to 4 ft from the WSW, period is still short at 5 to 6 seconds, but the wind swings light offshore from the NW. That’s the first clean window we’ve seen. The water temp is a warm 86°F, which is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there. The energy is weak (125 to 139), and the waves are just ordinary – small, clean, but not exciting. Crowds are likely here, so it’ll be a paddle for a few closeouts.

Sunday the 26th offers a similar story. A little 4 ft WSW swell with a 6-second period, and a light offshore wind from the NW. Clean, but again, very ordinary. The energy is still weak (119 to 123). It’s a small-wave day for a longboard or a funboard.

The best on offer is a toss-up between Saturday the 25th afternoon and Sunday the 26th afternoon. The wind is offshore and clean, but the swell is tiny and weak. If you’re desperate for a paddle, you’ll find something to ride, but don’t expect any power. The swell direction is SSW to WSW, which isn’t quite the optimum SE direction for this spot, so the waves won’t be holding their shape well. For a beach and reef setup, the short period means it’ll be a bit sectiony. It’s not a standout by any stretch, just the least bad option.

After that, Monday the 27th through the end of the month, it drops off into poor conditions again with stronger winds and smaller swell. The last couple of days into July show a tiny 3 ft swell with weak energy (77 to 139), and the wind picks up again.

So, bottom line: don’t get your hopes up. The first real chance to get wet is Saturday the 25th, and even then, it’s small and ordinary. Wait for the forecasts to change.

Rusty.

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