Southerndown Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you on this one. For the next 16 days, we’re looking at a really tough stretch at Southerndown. The data is honest: this is a long, quiet run with nothing that’s going to get the heart pumping. Most of the period is a write-off, but there’s a tiny, late flicker of hope right at the very end.

The first proper surfable window doesn’t show up until Sunday afternoon, the 20th of September. That’s over a week of flat, blown-out, or just plain messy conditions to get through first. The wait is a long one.

Let’s walk through it. The first week is a real grind. From Monday the 7th to Saturday the 19th, every single report is flagged as “poor surf conditions.” The wind is nearly always cross or cross-on, and often fresh to strong, creating a lumpy, choppy mess. The swell is small and weak, with combined energy readings mostly under 200 (moderate at best), and the period is short, usually under 9 seconds, meaning weak, crumbly waves. The water temperature is a notable 67°F with a massive anomaly of 6°F warmer than normal, which is very unusual for the time of year, but it doesn’t help the surf.

The only standout, and I mean the only one, arrives on Sunday afternoon, the 20th of September. The forecast finally shows a glimmer of something clean. We get a 2ft swell from the WSW, with a period of 11 seconds. That’s a decent groundswell, which will offer some shape and energy. The wind is light and cross-off from the ESE at just 3 mph, which is about as good as it gets for clean conditions. The combined energy is 152, which is still moderate, but it’s the only window where the surf is described as “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” For this bleak outlook, that’s the best we’ve got.

After that, Monday and Tuesday the 22nd of September offer clean conditions with offshore winds, but the swell is tiny – 1ft and 0.7ft – with combined energy dropping to 36 and 9. That’s basically flat. The wind is clean, but there’s nothing to ride.

So, the honest truth is, if you’re desperate for a paddle, your only real shot is Sunday afternoon the 20th. It’s not going to be epic, but it’ll be clean and small. For the rest of the 16 days, save your energy. The break is fairly consistent, so the forecast could change, but right now, it’s a waiting game. Keep an eye on it, but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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