Nanwan Beach (South Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The first real window we’re looking at is Monday the 17th of August. It’s not going to be perfect, but there’s something to get wet for early on. The swell is coming in from the SSW at about 6ft with a period of 8 seconds, and the energy is moderate, sitting at 919. The water is 84°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises there. The morning's a bit cross and there’s a storm risk, but the afternoon settles down to glassy conditions. It’s not a standout, but a few waves are on offer.

Now, the middle of the week gets messy. Tuesday and Wednesday are not looking great. Strong NE winds on Tuesday will have the surface clean but the energy drops to around 200, which is weak. Wednesday is similar, with only small, ordinary waves. Thursday and Friday see the wind swing to the south, and it’s going to get lumpy and cross-onshore. The swell picks up though – by Friday afternoon we’re looking at a solid 12ft from the SSW with a 10-second period, and the wave energy is strong at 2022. But it’s too big for this spot. That’s just a washing machine for anyone not on a big wave board.

The weekend stays tricky. Saturday and Sunday we’ve got 8ft to 10ft of leftover swell, but the winds keep it crossed and bumpy. Not a time to be getting excited about.

The real deal starts to show up on Monday the 25th. The wind goes offshore on Tuesday the 26th, but the swell direction has shifted to the E, and the period has jumped up to a very long 15 seconds. That’s proper groundswell. On Wednesday the 26th, we’ve got 6ft of this long-period E swell, and the energy is strong at 2558. The wind is cross-off from the NE, so the surface should be clean.

But the standouts are on Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th. Friday afternoon, we’ve got 6ft of E swell, still with that juicy 15-second period, and light WNW winds. The energy is up around 2062, which is strong. This is going to be proper. Saturday morning is more of the same, with 6ft E swell, a 15-second period, and light cross-off winds. These are the two sessions to plan for. Just remember, this long-period E swell at a beach and reef setup can be a bit straight, so keep your eyes open for the better peaks.

After that, the swell backs down a touch into the last day of August, with 5ft to 5ft from the SW and cleaner conditions. It’s not the size of the earlier days but it’s a more relaxed vibe. A few fun ones to be had.

So, to sum it up – we've got a slow start, a messy middle, but a solid finish. The Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th are your best bets. That’s where you want to be.

Rusty

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