New Brighton Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days at New Brighton Beach are looking pretty grim for a proper paddle. There’s a real dry spell on the cards, so don’t be chucking your board in the car just yet.

We’re starting off Sunday the 6th of September, and it’s a bit of a bummer. The swell is tiny, coming in at 3 ft from the southeast with a short, weak period of 4 seconds, and the combined wave energy is a measly 22 – that’s barely a ripple. The water temp is sitting at 52°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, but with light rain and a cross-on wind, it’s just not worth it. The whole first week is a write-off, with wave heights never cracking 3 ft and most days offering “poor surf conditions.” By Tuesday the 8th, the swell drops to 2 ft, and Thursday the 10th morning gives us a glassy 1 ft, but it’s just too small to do anything with. There’s a real gap from the start until about the middle of the second week.

The first real hint of something surfable – and I’m using that word loosely – comes on Monday the 14th of September. It’s a groundswell from the southeast, 2 ft with a period of 12 seconds, and the combined energy climbs to 118 (moderate). The wind is light offshore from the WSW in the morning, turning glassy by the afternoon. It’s clean, but the waves are still tiny. This is a beginner-level spot, and it’s inconsistent, so you’d be scratching for a ride. The swell direction from the southeast is a bit off the optimum of ENE, which doesn’t help.

The only standout in this whole window – and I mean the only one worth a mention – is Saturday the 19th of September. It’s not a classic, but it’s the best we’ve got. The morning shows a 2 ft swell from the SSE, with a long period of 16 seconds, and the combined energy hits 163 (strong). The wind is offshore from the WSW at 12 mph, and it’s clean. That long period groundswell means the waves will have some shape and energy, but at a beach break like New Brighton, it might break a bit too straight for my liking. The swell direction is SSE, which is close to the ENE optimum, so it’s got a bit of potential. Crowds are only “sometimes” an issue, so you might have it mostly to yourself.

Look, the rest of the forecast is a bust. The 18th and 20th have some offshore wind and small swell, but the energy is weak or the wind is too strong. Over 8 ft? Forget it – we never get that high. This is a quiet run for New Brighton, and it’s pretty normal for the area to have long flat spells. If you’re desperate for a wave, the 14th and 19th are your only real shots, but don’t expect much.

Rusty.

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