Southerndown Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you—this is a tough stretch for Southerndown. The charts are showing some swell, but the wind and weather are just not lining up. We’re looking at a long run of poor surf conditions, and honestly, there’s nothing here that’s gonna get me paddling out in a hurry.

The first glimmer of anything rideable comes Thursday the 12th of August, but it’s tiny. A 1ft to 2ft WSW swell with a 10-second period, which is a bit of a groundswell, but the energy is weak (40 to 54). The wind is cross-off in the morning, which is clean, but it swings cross-shore in the afternoon with a bit of chop. It’s just not enough to get excited about.

Friday the 13th sees a bit more size, up to 2ft, from the WSW, with a 10-second period, but the wind is onshore and then cross-on, making it choppy and messy. The energy is still low (86 to 98). This is a beginner level at best, but the wind’s gonna ruin it.

Saturday the 14th drops back to 2ft, and the wind is cross-on again. The combined energy is weak (64). It’s not looking good.

Sunday the 15th has a clean morning with a cross-off NW wind, but the swell is only 1ft with a short 8-second period, and the energy is a measly 23. The afternoon gets a fresh cross-shore wind and lumpy chop. Not worth it.

Monday the 16th of August is the only day that might feel like a tease. The morning is glassy, with a 1ft WSW swell and a 7-second period. The energy is only 14. It’s tiny, but that glassy wind is a rare treat. If you’ve got a foamie and you’re desperate, you could go for a paddle, but it’s not surf.

Then we hit a proper flat spell. From Tuesday the 17th all the way through to Thursday the 18th, the swell drops to 0.7ft with energy in the single digits. That’s a dead ocean.

Friday the 19th kicks up a bit of a pulse, but it’s not good. We get a 3ft to 4ft WSW swell, but the wind is cross-on and the energy is moderate (106 to 155). The period is only 6 seconds, so it’s windswell, and it’s gonna be choppy. This is not a surf day.

The standout for the whole period, if you can call it that, is Thursday the 20th of August. There’s a 6ft W swell with a 8-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 374, which is solid. The wind is cross-shore, so it’s not totally onshore, but it’s a fresh breeze and there’s a lumpy cross-chop. This is a punchy, messy wave. It’s over 5ft, so it’s not for beginners, and the wind is going to make it a battle. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The swell is too big and the wind is too strong for a clean wave.

After that, it drops off again. The 21st and 22nd of August are back to tiny, with a 1ft to 2ft swell and weak energy. There’s a glassy moment on the morning of the 22nd with a 0.3ft swell and a 16-second period, but that’s a long-period groundswell with no size. It’s just a ripple.

The final few days from the 23rd to the 27th of August see a bump in swell, hitting 6ft again on the 23rd and 27th, with moderate energy (389 to 406). But the wind is onshore or cross-on, and the period is short (8 seconds). It’s going to be a messy, choppy affair. The 27th sees rain showers and a strong onshore wind. Not a good look.

The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual.

So, the bottom line: there’s no standout surf here. The best on offer is Thursday the 20th of August, with a 6ft W swell, but it’s going to be lumpy and cross-shore. If you’re an expert with a big board and a thick skin, you might find something, but for most of us, it’s a waiting game. The forecasts can change, but right now, this is a blank run.

Rusty.

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