Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s get into it.

The outlook for Shark Island (Cronulla) over the next 16 days is a bit of a slow burn, with the best windows coming in the first week and a promising but distant event in the second week. The water temperature is sitting at 63°, which is about average for this time of year – nothing unusual there.

The first real standout is the morning of Thursday, 27 August. Shark Island will see a 6 ft S swell with a period of 9 seconds, and combined energy is moderate at 577. The wind is light and cross-off from the SSE at 6 mph, cleaning things up nicely. This is a solid, clean option for advanced surfers, though the swell direction is a bit south of the optimum SE, so it won’t be perfect. Still, it’s the best on offer early on.

Friday morning, 28 August, brings another good window. You’ve got a 5 ft SSE swell, period 11 seconds, and energy at 643. The wind is offshore from the WSW at 9 mph, and it’s clean. That’s a nice combo for a reef break like Shark Island – the longer period means better shape and longer lulls between sets. But keep in mind, this spot is fairly consistent and rarely breaks, so it’s a treat when it’s on.

Saturday morning, 29 August, has a bigger 7 ft SSE swell (energy 710), but the wind is cross-off from the SSW at 9 mph, keeping it clean. The size is getting into expert territory, so only the experienced should paddle out. The swell period is shorter at 9 seconds, so it won’t have the same punch as Friday.

After a quiet spell in late August and early September, the very end of the forecast period shows a long-range standout. On Thursday morning, 3 September, a massive SSE swell with a period of 20 seconds and combined energy of 1596 hits – that’s very strong wave energy. The swell is 4 ft, but the period is so long it’ll hold a lot of power. The wind is cross from the NW at 9 mph, so it’s a bit lumpy. This is a groundswell of the highest order, and it’s best at reefs like Shark Island. It’s a promising prospect, but it’s a week away, so keep an eye on it.

Friday, 4 September, morning keeps the energy high with a 5 ft S swell, period 16 seconds, and energy 1195, but the wind is cross-off from the SSE at 9 mph, making it clean. Again, expert-level due to the size and power.

Overall, the best bets are Friday morning, 28 August, for quality and cleanliness, and Thursday morning, 3 September, for the raw power of that long-period groundswell. The rest of the period is a mix of small, weak, or windy days, so pick your moments.

Rusty.

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