Southerndown Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on offer at Southerndown.

Truth be told, mate, it’s a pretty bleak stretch ahead. We’re looking at a full 16-day window with not a single standout session. The surf is mostly small, the wind is often a mess, and the whole thing feels like a write-off for anyone wanting a proper paddle. The water is sitting around 69°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – a full 9°F above average – so at least you won’t be cold while you’re waiting for a wave that never comes.

The first week is a right-off. From Wednesday the 5th through to the end of the following week, everything is marked as poor. We get a few pulses, like Thursday morning the 13th with a 4ft swell from the WSW and a 8-second period, and combined wave energy around 192 (moderate), but the wind is a moderate cross-onshore, so it’ll be lumpy and chopped. Friday morning the 14th is similar, 4ft WSW swell with a cross-shore wind, but the cross-chop will make it a bit of a battle.

There’s a brief moment on Sunday morning the 16th of August. We see a 5ft swell from the WSW, a 7-second period, and combined energy hitting 251 (moderate to strong), with a light cross-offshore breeze from the NW. That’s the cleanest wind in the whole outlook, and it’s the only time we see anything described as “clean.” The swell is a bit short-period though, and it’s a beach/reef setup, so it could be walled and a bit fat. This is the only real flicker of hope, but at that size, it’s getting into the territory where it might be too much for beginners. For the experienced crew, it’s the one to watch if the wind holds.

After that, it drops right back off. Monday the 17th brings a small 2ft swell with clean cross-offshore wind, but the energy is weak (68). Then the rest of the second week fades into tiny, messy, or blown-out surf with strong breezes from the W and NW. There’s a solid run of days from the 18th to the 20th where the swell barely scratches 1ft and the wind is either strong cross-onshore or strong offshore – but with no wave to ride, the offshore wind is pointless.

So, bottom line: there’s no real standouts here. If you’re desperate, that Sunday morning the 16th is your best bet for a clean-ish, shoulder-high wave, but don’t expect much. Otherwise, for paddle surfing, it’s a long, flat, and choppy outlook. Honestly, with the wind and the small, weak swell, a lot of these days would be more interesting for a kite surfer than a surfer on a stick.

Keep your eyes peeled for updates, but for now, it’s a lot of sitting and waiting.

Rusty.

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