Short Point Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be straight – this outlook for Short Point is a tough one. The whole 16-day window is a real struggle, with only a couple of brief windows that might offer something worth paddling out for. Don’t expect much, and if you’re flexible, keep an eye on the sky.

The pattern is dominated by a small, weak NE windswell with a short period of 6 to 8 seconds. The combined wave energy is mostly weak, with values like 25 and 19 for the first few days, and rarely breaking into moderate territory (256). The swell direction is from the NE, which is the opposite of the optimum direction (NE is listed as optimum, so it’s actually matching well there, but the size and period just aren’t there). The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing wild to report.

Now, for the first recommendation – and it’s a lonely one. On Friday, August 28th, in the morning, Short Point gets a brief moment of life. The swell is a modest 4 ft from the ENE, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy hits 256, which is moderate. The real highlight is the wind: it’s glassy, calm, and coming from the north at 0 mph. That’s going to make for clean, smooth waves. The break is fairly consistent, exposed, and a beginner-friendly spot, so this is the standout. But it’s a short-lived window – by afternoon, the wind swings onshore from the ESE and the quality drops off a cliff. Crowds are listed as “often,” so expect company if you go.

After that, the outlook goes back to poor surf conditions for days. The swell stays small (1 ft to 4 ft), the period short, and the wind keeps shifting onshore or cross-shore, with rain showers and cloudy skies making it even less appealing. The combined energy is mostly below 100 or just nudging into three digits, but the “wave comment” says “poor surf conditions” for nearly every session.

Wednesday, September 3rd, in the morning, offers the next glance. Swell is 4 ft from the NE at 8 seconds, with moderate energy (269), and the wind is cross-offshore from the NNE at 12 mph, keeping things clean. But the forecast is “marginal” at best, and this is over a week away, so treat it as promising but uncertain.

From there, it’s back to tiny, weak surf with onshore winds until the end of the 16-day window. Saturday, September 6th, in the morning, sees a pathetic 1 ft from the NE, and it’s all over.

To be honest, this is a blank run for the area. Short Point is fairly consistent, so this poor stretch is unusual, but it’s what we’ve got. The only real chance is that Friday morning (August 28th), and even then it’s small. If you’re after a paddle, that’s your best bet – glazed and clean, just don’t expect much push.

Rusty.

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