Noorderstrand Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, I’m looking at the forecast for Noorderstrand and it’s a tough one. We’ve got a pretty flat start, and the whole 16-day window is a bit of a struggle. The first real sniff of anything that’s worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until the end of the run.

The water is sitting at a warm 70°F – that’s 5°F warmer than usual, so it’s noticeably warmer than normal for this time of year. Nice for the skin, but it doesn’t help the waves much.

Alright, let’s break down the whole period:

Tuesday the 11th of August kicks off with a tiny 2ft swell from the NNW with a short period of 7 seconds. The combined energy is weak at 57. The morning’s wind is a light cross-off from the ENE, so it’s clean, but there’s just no energy there. It’s surfable but very ordinary. The afternoon turns onshore and choppy. Not great.

Wednesday the 12th drops even smaller. 2ft in the morning, 1ft in the afternoon. The winds are okay, but the swell is a ghost. Not worth a session.

From Thursday the 13th through to Monday the 17th, it’s a real dry spell. Swell heights barely crack 3ft and the periods are short, mostly under 7 seconds. The winds are almost always cross-on or onshore, so it’s choppy and lumpy. The combined energy readings are pathetically low, mostly in the teens and twenties. You’re looking at about eight days of very poor surf. It’s a blank run.

Tuesday the 18th is more of the same: small, onshore, and weak.

Wednesday the 19th brings a tiny 3ft swell from the WSW with a period of just 4 seconds. The combined energy is only 44. The morning has a light cross-shore breeze, but it’s still a sorry sight.

Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st show a little more life. Friday morning has a clean 3ft from the WSW with a cross-off wind, but the period is still short at 4 seconds. The afternoon jumps to 4ft from the WSW, but the wind turns cross-on, bringing in the chop.

Now, Saturday the 22nd of August is the one stand-out in the whole outlook. The morning brings a 5ft swell from the W with a period of 6 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 160 (moderate). The wind is a clean cross-off from the ESE, so it’s going to be clean. This is the best window we’ve got. The surf is a bit small for that energy level, but the conditions are clean. In the afternoon, the wind goes light and cross-on, so the morning is the clear call. This is the day to be in the water if you can.

Sunday the 23rd goes back to being messy and windy, with the swell dropping off fast.

Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th are tiny and onshore again. Wednesday the 26th pushes a 7ft swell from the W with a period of 6 seconds, and the combined energy is a strong 332. The morning is cross-shore and clean, but at 7ft, it’s getting a bit big for the beginners and the short period means it’ll be a bit of a washing machine. Not ideal.

So, the real pick of the litter is Saturday morning, the 22nd of August. Clean, moderate energy, and the biggest swell we’ll see in decent conditions. Otherwise, it’s a long wait for very little reward.

Rusty.

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