Nimitz Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what we’ve got.

Honestly, it’s a bit of a tough stretch. There’s a long gap of not much happening, but we do have a couple of moments that could be worth the paddle. The focus is going to be on Nimitz Beach, a reef setup that’s a beginner spot but inconsistent. This is a fickle little wave, so you’ve gotta pick your window.

The water is sitting at a warm 81°, which is about 0.5° off the usual—right on the money for this time of year.

For the first few days, from Monday the 31st of August right through to the end of that week, the surf is pretty poor. We’ve got a cross-offshore breeze from the ENE at 19 mph, but the swell is tiny and weak. The combined energy is only around 349-440 (weak), and the period is a long 15-18 seconds, which makes it better for a point or reef, but the size is only 2 ft. It’s just not enough to get excited about.

We hit a bit of a lull with no real recommendations for a few days. The middle of the week, Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd, sees a jump in swell energy—up to 1060 (moderate) and 1556 (strong)—but the wind is howling at 22-25 mph cross-off, and the period drops to a short 8 seconds. That’s messy, wind-affected, and short-period junk. The size gets up to 8 ft, which is a bit too much for beginners and the quality is marginal at best. This setup is looking more like a kite session than a proper paddle.

Now, the one standout. Keep your eyes on Monday the 7th of September (Nimitz Beach). The afternoon session is looking promising. We’ve got a 4 ft swell from the SSW with a very long 17-second period, which means real groundswell with good shape. The combined energy climbs to 891 (moderate), and the wind swings around to a light offshore from the NNE at 12 mph. That’s the good stuff. The wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions,” and that’s the one window we’ve got. Keep in mind this spot is *inconsistent*, so if it’s breaking, it’s a bit of a gem. The size is manageable for a beginner, but that long period means the sets will have some punch.

After that, the following week fades out again. The wind stays cross-off, but the swell energy drops back down to weak levels (141-403), and the size is back to 2-2 ft. Not much to write home about.

So, the call is clear: if you’re keen, make a plan for the afternoon of Monday the 7th of September. That’s the pick of the fortnight. The rest is a waiting game.

Rusty.

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