Sandy Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – the next sixteen days are a tough watch for Sandy Beach. We’re looking at a long stretch of poor conditions, so let’s break it down.

The honest truth is there’s no real surf on offer for a good while. The whole forecast period is plagued by strong, cross-shore winds from the ENE and NE, which are just trashing any potential. Combined swell energy starts off weak – around 86 – and builds quickly into the hundreds, but the wind and chop are relentless, making it all a messy, lumpy cross-chop. From September 14th through the 24th, it’s a write-off: poor surf conditions, zero scores, and a mix of fresh breezes and lumpy water. You’ll see swell heights around 1 ft to 2 ft early on, but even when it pushes up to 4 ft by the 16th, the 19 mph winds just turn it into a washing machine. By the 17th and 18th, we’ve got 7 ft swell with an 8-second period, but it’s still poor. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so at least that’s not an issue.

The only faintest glimmer comes right at the end. On September 25th, the swell drops back to 3 ft but with a very long 15-second period from the SSW. The wind is still cross and fresh at 22 mph. The combined energy reads at 569 – moderate – but the problem remains the same: that cross-shore wind will mess with the face of any wave, especially a long-period groundswell like this that would usually favour a point or reef. At a beach and reef setup like this, the long period might make it break a bit too straight. Still, it’s the only session that even gets a mention, with a score of 1 out of 10 and described as "marginal". If you’re desperate, it’s the only time it’s even worth a look, but don’t expect much. A couple of days later, on the 28th, another 3 ft SSW groundswell rolls in, but same story – lumpy cross-shore wind.

It’s a frustrating outlook. For the entire first week and a half, the conditions are so consistently poor that you’d be better off saving your energy. The only time the weather clears up, the wind is still ruining it. With such persistent onshore and cross-shore winds, the whole setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer for most of this period. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but honestly, nothing is standing out. The long-range call for the 25th is promising in terms of swell, but don’t hold your breath on the wind cleaning up.

Stay frosty,
Rusty

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