Shark Island (Cronulla) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s in store for Shark Island (Cronulla) over the next few weeks. It’s gonna be a bit of a mixed bag, with one or two moments that could be pretty special if the timing’s right.

Right now, we’re kicking off the forecast period with a bit of a slow start. The first real sniff of action comes in on Tuesday the 8th. The morning will see a 8 ft SSE swell with a modest 9-second period, and the water temp is sitting right on 64°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year. The energy is moderate (841). The wind is a cross-off from the south at 16 mph, which isn’t perfectly clean but it’s workable. The afternoon looks a bit better with the swell dropping to 6 ft from the SSE, period dropping to 8 seconds, and the wind easing right back to a light 6 mph SE cross-off. The energy drops to 488. It’s a low-key start, but it’s rideable.

Wednesday the 9th is a write-off. We’ve got a strong S wind blowing 28 mph in the afternoon pushing a 10 ft SSE swell – that’s too big and messy for anything but a kite. The morning is equally poor. Keep your board in the car.

Thursday the 10th is where things get serious. The swell builds to 8 ft from the south, with a period of 9-10 seconds. The energy is ramping up strong – 1288 in the morning and climbing to 1510 in the afternoon. That’s a lot of water moving around. The wind is a fresh S/SSW cross-off at 19 mph, which is going to put some texture on the face. This is solid, expert-level stuff. For the experienced crew, it’s worth a paddle, but the wind is a bit of a factor.

Friday the 11th sees the swell drop a notch to 7 ft from the SSE, period holding at 10 seconds. The energy is still moderate (689). The morning wind is a gentle SSW cross-off at 9 mph, which is decent. The afternoon turns cross-shore from the SE at 9 mph, which brings a little chop. It’s marginal, but you could get a few.

Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th are pretty flat and poor. Waves are small, under 4 ft, and the wind switches onshore from the NE on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Not worth your time.

Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th are a write-off too. Tiny waves with onshore wind. The energy is weak, barely reaching 70 on Tuesday morning. This is a real lull.

Wednesday the 16th brings a flicker of hope. The morning has a tiny 3 ft S swell with a very long 14-second period, but the energy is weak (442). The afternoon goes to 5 ft from the SSE with a 12-second period and a light cross-shore wind from the ESE at 6 mph. The energy is 728. It’s clean, but the swell is small for this reef. Worth a look if you’re desperate.

Thursday the 17th through Monday the 21st is a long stretch of poor or very ordinary conditions. Small swell, onshore winds, and low energy. The drop in the 18th has a weird 5 ft from the NE with a short 6-second period and a light offshore wind from the SSW – that’s unusual, but it’s a short-period windswell, so it’ll be lumpy. Not a standout.

Now, here’s the real standout. Tuesday the 22nd of September. The morning is looking glassy with a light N wind at 3 mph, and the swell is a clean 5 ft from the NE with a 7-second period. The energy is moderate (380). That offshore glassy wind on a 5 ft NE swell at Shark Island? That’s a recipe for some clean, fun lefts. The crowd factor is listed as “sometimes” here, so expect a few others to have the same idea. This is the best call of the period. The energy is moderate, but the conditions are going to be pristine.

The rest of the 23rd is back to onshore slop.

So, bottom line: the first week is a grind with only a few windows. The only true standout window is the morning of Tuesday the 22nd. Mark it in your calendar. It’s a long way out, so keep an eye on the charts, but it looks promising.

Rusty.

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