Norman Bay (Wilsons Promontory) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Norman Bay.

Honestly, it’s a pretty bleak stretch ahead. The next couple of weeks are filled with onshore or cross-onshore winds, and while there’s some swell in the water, it’s almost always accompanied by messy conditions. The first few days are a write-off. Wednesday the 15th is a write-off with 16 mph onshore winds and a lumpy 6 ft swell. The combined energy is strong at 1389, but it’s poor surf. Thursday the 16th shows a similar story, though the swell drops a touch and the wind lightens to 9 mph, but it’s still onshore. The afternoon has a 6 ft, 15-second swell from the WSW, with combined energy of 2021, but it’s only marginal, and the wind is still onshore. Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th are both cross-onshore, with a long-period 4 ft south-west groundswell, but the wind is light and cross-onshore, so you’re looking at small wind ripples. The energy is moderate (around 636-431).

The one glimmer comes on Sunday the 19th in the afternoon. The wind drops to glassy, calm conditions, with a tiny 2 ft, 12-second WSW swell. The combined energy is weak (150), and the waves are surfable but very ordinary. It’s not a standout, but it’s the only clean window. For a beginner, it might be a gentle paddle, but it’s not worth the drive.

From Monday the 20th onwards, it’s a steady diet of poor surf. The swell stays small, mostly under 3 ft, and the wind is cross-onshore or stronger. Tuesday the 21st has a short-period 6-second wind swell, barely 3 ft, and it’s choppy. The energy is weak (103-158). The wind picks up again on the 22nd, and it’s just messy. The combined energy stays moderate but never clean.

The second week gets a bit more size, but not the quality. On Sunday the 26th, there’s a strong breeze at 25 mph, cross-onshore, with a 5 ft, short-period 7-second wind swell. The energy is moderate (434), but it’s messy. The best of the second week looks like Monday the 27th morning, with a 6 ft, 16-second SW groundswell, and combined energy of 2720 – that’s strong. But it’s cross-shore and cross-onshore, with a moderate breeze, so it’s choppy. The setup is marginal at best, and for a beach break, that long period will likely make it break too straight, so it’s expert-only and not really clean. Tuesday the 28th is similar, with a 5 ft, 13-second swell, but still cross-onshore.

Overall, there’s no standout. The water temperature is 57°, which is about normal for the time of year, with just a slight 0.8° anomaly.

Norman Bay is a fairly exposed beginner spot, and it’s fairly consistent, but with this forecast, you’re better off leaving the boards in the shed. The whole 16-day window is a bust for paddle surfing. If the wind stays strong and the swell is up, it might be more interesting for kite surfing than a paddle. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a pretty blank run that’s normal for the area in winter.

Rusty.

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