Norries Head Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty here. Well, I’ve got to be straight with you – this 16-day stretch for Norries Head is a tough one to call. The first week and a bit is basically a write-off for any decent surf, with barely a ripple worth paddling for. We’re stuck in a flat spell until around the 23rd of September, when the ocean finally shows a bit of pulse. Even then, conditions are messy, so keep your expectations in check.

From now through to the 22nd of September, it’s dead. Tiny waves, mostly under 3 ft, with weak combined swell energy – often reading as low as 2 to 71 (that’s weak). The wind’s all over the shop, and most of the time it’s cross or cross-on, so even the few knee-high bumps are chopped up. There’s a brief flicker on the afternoon of the 19th – a 3 ft SE swell with clean conditions and cross-off winds – but it’s barely surfable and the score’s still a 1 out of 10. Don’t get excited.

Things start to change around Wednesday the 23rd. The swell builds to 7 ft from the ESE, with a period of 7 seconds. Combined energy jumps to 443 (moderate), but the wind is light and cross-shore, creating small wind ripples. This is more size than we’ve seen, but that short period and cross-shore wind means it’s lumpy and hard to read. The break itself, Norries Head (point), is inconsistent and only for beginners at the best of times, and with this kind of energy, it’s going to be a messy, marginal affair. The water temp is 70° – pretty much spot on for this time of year.

The 24th and 25th keep the swell in the 6 ft to 7 ft range, but the wind stays cross-on from the ENE, putting a chop on the face. Combined energy is up around 350–533 (moderate to moderate–strong). Still, it’s not clean. Friday morning the 25th sees a brief window with near glassy conditions and 7 ft from the east – that’s the closest we get to a standout, but it’s still a marginal call with the onshore influence.

Saturday the 26th offers the biggest numbers: 7 ft–7 ft from the ENE, period 9 seconds, and combined energy hitting 844 (strong). The wind is light cross-on in the morning, cleaning up a bit, but the afternoon turns cross-shore. For experienced surfers, this is the most energy we see in the whole forecast – but it’s raw, lumpy, and the point break will be closing out or sectiony. Not an easy one.

From the 27th onward, the swell fades through the 5 ft–4 ft range, with energy dropping to 283 and then 176 (weak–moderate). Wind swings southerly and picks up, bringing rain and choppy, poor conditions. Not worth rushing for.

So, if you’re hanging for something, the standouts are the morning of Wednesday the 23rd (7 ft ESE, light cross-shore, moderate energy at 443) and the morning of Saturday the 26th (7 ft ENE, light cross-on, strong energy at 844). Neither is perfect, but that’s as good as it gets. For beginners, the 7 ft+ stuff is too big. Experienced crew might find a few corners on the 26th. Otherwise, this is a long, flat, frustrating run. Don’t bother with any of the earlier days.

Rusty.

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