Southerndown Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on the cards for Southerndown. I’ll be straight with you: this stretch of 16 days is a real struggle. There’s not a single standout session in the whole outlook, and the water is running at 68°, which is a stonking 7° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s proper unusual, feels like a warm bath.

We kick off on Tuesday the 25th of August, but it’s tiny. We’re talking about a 0.3 ft swell from the west with a 13-second period, which gives a combined energy of just 4 – that’s about as weak as it gets. The wind is a fresh 22 mph from the east, making it a cross-off breeze, but there’s just nothing to ride. The whole first week is a write-off. Wednesday and Thursday stay flat with micro-swells under 1.0 ft and poor conditions. Friday the 28th sees a little bump to 2 ft from the southwest, but the period drops to 4 seconds and the wind is cross-on, so it’s choppy and messy. You’d be wasting your time.

Then we hit a bit of a lump. Saturday the 29th of August, the swell jumps to 7 ft from the WSW, with a short 8-second period. The combined energy is moderate at 508, but that’s where the good news ends. The wind is howling onshore at 25 mph with rain showers, so it’s a total mess – only for the hardcore or the kites. Sunday the 30th drops to 4 ft, and it’s still cross-on and choppy. This pattern of onshore slop carries right through the first week of September. The wind is relentless, mostly from the west or southwest, blowing 19 to 31 mph, and the swell is always cross-on or onshore. The wave quality is consistently poor. There’s a brief window on Friday the 4th of September with a 3 ft swell and a gentle cross-shore breeze from the northwest, but the period is only 6 seconds and the energy is a weak 79 – not worth a paddle.

The second week doesn’t offer much relief. Saturday the 5th of September sees a 7 ft swell from the WSW with a 9-second period, energy up to 630, but the wind is cross-on and moderate. It’s a lumpy, choppy mess. We get a similar size on Sunday the 6th, but same story – cross-on wind and messy. The energy actually hits 1039 on Saturday afternoon, which is strong, but with the wind ruining it, this setup is honestly more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The final days into the 9th of September show a slight drop in swell height, but the wind stays cross-on and the period is long around 11-12 seconds, which would normally be good for a point or reef, but at Southerndown with the constant onshore flow, it’s just blown out.

Plain and simple, there are no good surf options in this 16-day window. The guidance confirms this is a beginner-friendly break that’s fairly consistent, but this run is a total blank. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d save the wax and wait for the next one.

Rusty.

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