Nyang-Nyang Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m lookin’ at what we’ve got on the cards for Nyang-Nyang over the next couple of weeks. It’s a tough stretch to start, but there’s a little light at the end of the tunnel.

We’re kickin’ off Friday the 3rd with waves on offer, but conditions are a bit of a let-down. Swell’s running about 6 ft from the SSW, period 13 seconds – that’s a long-period groundswell with decent energy (1367). The water’s warm at 81°, which is pretty normal for this time of year. Problem is, we’ve got a cross-onshore wind out of the SE at 12 mph, so it’s choppy and messy. Not the kind of day that gets you out of bed early. The reef here is advanced-only, and even then it’s a struggle in this stuff.

From Saturday the 4th through to Wednesday the 8th, things actually get worse – the swell stays solid, 6 ft to 7 ft from the SSW, but the wind ramps up to 16-19 mph from the ESE or SE, keeping it cross-onshore and lumpy. The energy is huge, three-digit values all over 2000 at times, but the quality is poor. It’s a shame because there’s plenty of juice, but it’s too blown out for a good paddle.

Thursday the 9th and Friday the 10th bring a slight drop in wind speed – back to 12 mph – but it’s still cross-onshore, and the swell stays around 6 ft to 6 ft from the SSW. The energy drops a bit (1452-1797) but the consistency is there. It’s still only marginal at best; you’d be cruising out there hoping for a sneaky clean set, but mostly it’s just work.

There’s a bit of a lull over the weekend of the 11th and 12th. Swell drops to 3 ft-5 ft from the SW, energy fading fast (down to 453 by Sunday arvo). Wind’s still cross-on, so the windows are small and messy. Not worth it for the drive.

Now, Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th – the wind eases a bit, 9 mph from the ESE, and the swell nudges back up to 4 ft-5 ft from the SSW. Periods are long, 17-18 seconds on Monday, which is pure groundswell. At a reef setup like Nyang-Nyang, that kind of period is perfect – the waves will have shape and power, but the cross-onshore breeze is still a buzzkill. The energy is moderate (869-1557), and the scores are only marginal. Still, if you’re desperate, it’s better than the previous week.

Wednesday the 15th morning gives us the lightest wind of the whole run – only 6 mph from the ESE. Swell is 5 ft from the SSW, 16 seconds. It’s glassy in the early hours, but it’s still cross-onshore, so you’ll get little ripples on the face. Energy is low (957). Best of a bad bunch, but only for the dedicated.

Now here’s the standout – Thursday the 16th morning. This is the one that gets me talking. Swell jumps to 7 ft from the SE, period is short at 8 seconds, but the wind? Glassy. A lovely 3 mph from the SSE. That’s rare, and it means the reef will be clean and lined up. The energy is strong (1252). The downside is that 7 ft is a solid size – this is for experienced surfers only. It’s a reef break, so it’ll handle that short-period swell well, with punchy, fast waves. The short period means sets will be frequent, so you won’t be waiting long. Crowds are only sometimes an issue here, and on a Thursday morning you might get it quiet. This is the best on offer, no question.

After that, Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th see the wind pick back up to 16-19 mph cross-onshore, and the swell drops to 4 ft-5 ft from the SW. Energy fades again. Poor conditions, back to the fight.

So, overall: it’s a rough run for Nyang-Nyang, with nearly every day blighted by cross-onshore wind. The glimmer is Thursday the 16th morning – glassy, 7 ft from the SE, and clear. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. The rest of the month is for the die-hards with low expectations.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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