Noordhoek Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Honestly, it’s a bit of a tough stretch ahead. We’ve got a whole lot of wind and messy conditions to deal with before we see any real quality. The first solid recommendation isn’t until late in the window, so we’re looking at a long gap of poor surf.

Let’s start with Noordhoek, a pretty consistent reef break that’s fairly exposed to the SW swell. The water temp is sitting at 65°, which is about 1° cooler than normal for this time of year, so pretty average, you won’t need a 5mm.

We kick off the period on Wednesday afternoon, September 2nd, with a 10ft SW swell, but it’s 13-second groundswell from the southwest and the wind is a messy onshore breeze. It’s a no-go. The energy is strong though, hitting 2740.

Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th are a write-off. Strong onshore winds and lumpy conditions across the board, with swell mixing up. Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th see the wind pick up even more, with a near gale on Sunday afternoon blowing out a 10ft SSW swell. Not for surfing. Actually, with that kind of wind and a beach setup, it’s looking more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th offer some slight relief, but it’s still cross-shore wind making things choppy. Swell drops to 5ft-6ft, but it’s just not clean. The rest of the first week and into the second is more of the same – onshore winds, lumpy seas, and marginal conditions.

Now, if you’re patient, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It’s a long way off, but Wednesday morning, September 16th, looks promising. We’ve got a clean 7ft SW swell, with a period of 14 seconds. That’s proper long-period groundswell, which will wrap nicely around this reef. The wind is a cross-offshore breeze, meaning clean, lined-up waves. The energy is strong, at 1762. It’s still a bit chunky at 7ft – that’s more for the experienced crew, maybe a bit much for beginners.

And then Thursday morning, September 17th, is also worth a look. Another 7ft SW swell with a 13-second period, and it’s clean with the cross-offshore wind (1756 energy). It’s not as long-period as the 16th, but it’s still solid. Again, strong wind, so only for the experienced.

So, the pick of the fortnight is that Wednesday morning, September 16th, at Noordhoek. It’s a true standout, but remember it’s a long-range call so don’t book your flight just yet. Otherwise, it’s a waiting game.

Keep your eyes on the horizon.

Rusty.

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