Southerndown Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ over the next couple of weeks. Southerndown is the only spot in the mix, and honestly, it’s a tough stretch. The whole 16-day window is a bit of a bust – there’s no real standout, no session you’d mark on the calendar. We’ve got a long gap of poor surf right from the start.

The water temperature is sittin’ at 69°, which is a massive 8° warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s very unusual, feels more like a bathtub than the Atlantic, but it won’t help the waves any.

Sunday 30th August kicks things off with a 4ft WSW swell, but it’s a short period 9 second job, and the wind is howling onshore from the SW at 15 mph. The combined swell energy is 344 (moderate), but the conditions are just poor. The afternoon gets worse with a 5ft stormy 6 second swell and a risk of thunderstorms. This is a write-off.

Monday 31st August pushes up a bit of size – 6ft from the W, period at 9 seconds, energy at 505 (moderate). But the wind is a fresh cross-shore from the WNW at 19 mph, leaving lumpy, messy waves. Not your friend.

Tuesday 1st September drops right back. 3ft, still poor, with onshore wind and rain showers. The week stays crook.

Wednesday 2nd sees some size return – 5ft to 6ft from the WSW, period stuck at 6-7 seconds, but the wind is onshore and up to 22 mph. That’s a messy, blown-out combo. The energy climbs to 334 (moderate), but it’s ugly.

Thursday 3rd is more of the same – 4ft, short period, cross-onshore wind. Energy sits at 372, but no quality.

Friday 4th September is the biggest of the whole window – 8ft from the W, 8 second period. Energy hits 792 (strong to very strong). But the wind is a strong cross-onshore at 25 mph. That’s a washing machine. Southerndown is fairly exposed to SW swell, but with these winds, it’s a mess. Honestly, for a beach break, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Saturday 5th September finally eases up. The morning sees 4ft from the W, 7 second period, with a light cross-shore breeze from the NW at 6 mph. The energy is 272 (moderate), and the comment says “marginal.” It’s the only time in the first week that’s even borderline worth a look, but it’s small and short-period.

From Sunday 6th September all the way through to Monday 14th September, the surf drops away to virtually nothing. Heights hover between 0.7ft and 2ft. The winds get clean and even offshore a few times – like on Thursday 10th September with glass, and Saturday 12th September with glassy conditions – but there’s just no swell to ride. The energy values drop to as low as 7 (weak). It’s a flat spell that lasts over a week.

So there you have it. No good options. If you’re desperate, the early morning of Saturday 5th September is the only window where you might get a knee-high dribble with a bit of shape. Otherwise, the board stays in the car. It tends not to stay this poor for long, but this run is a real quiet one.

Rusty.

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