Dunedin - St Clair Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s break down the Dunedin outlook. First couple of days are a bust, but there’s some real gems if you’re willing to wait. Water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing to write home about.

The week starts rough. Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th are total garbage—strong cross-shore winds and big, messy swell. The wave energy is off the charts (6654 on Monday morning) but it’s just a lumpy, wind-chopped mess. Don’t even think about it. That’s a two-day gap right off the bat.

Wednesday the 5th morning is a shift. At St-Clair, we’ve got a clean 8ft swell from the SSE with a nice long 11-second period, and a light cross-offshore WNW breeze. The energy is moderate (1172), and the wind and tide are lining up. But the swell is predicted to be too big for this break that morning, so be careful. The afternoon drops to 7ft and the wind goes cross-on, so it’s not the pick.

Now, Thursday the 6th morning is where it gets good. A clean 5ft swell from the SSE, 9-second period, light WNW cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy is 524 (moderate), and the conditions are very good. A solid, fun morning.

Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th are smaller but clean. Friday morning has 3ft from the S with a 12-second period and a light NNE cross-offshore breeze. Energy is low at 390, but it’s clean. Saturday morning is even smaller at 3ft from the S, 10-second period, with a glassy NE breeze. Nice for a longboard.

Sunday the 9th and Monday the 10th are more of the same—clean, small, consistent. Monday the 10th morning bumps up to 4ft from the SSE, 12-second period, with a light N cross-offshore breeze. Energy is 683, and the conditions are very good.

The real standout is Tuesday the 11th morning. This is the best on offer. At St-Clair, we’ve got a 6ft swell from the E, 10-second period, with a light offshore N breeze—dead clean. The combined energy is 638 (moderate), and that offshore wind will make for clean, punchy waves. A morning to get excited about.

Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th are still good. Thursday the 13th morning has a very long-period 17-second groundswell from the SSW, but only 3ft. The energy is 509, and with a light N cross-offshore breeze, it’s clean. That long period means the waves will be fat and slow at the beach, but the point and reef could be fun.

The second standout is Saturday the 15th afternoon. This one is a beauty. At St-Clair, we’ve got a 5ft swell from the E, 11-second period, with glassy conditions. The combined energy is 661, and it’s dead flat—no wind. A rare, clean, glassy afternoon. The crowd profile says “sometimes,” so it might be worth a paddle.

Sunday the 16th is also excellent, with a 5ft ESE swell, 11-second period, and a light offshore NNW breeze. Energy is 995, which is strong. Clean, punchy waves.

Monday the 17th is a write-off again with rain and cross-shore wind. Tuesday the 18th morning rounds out the forecast with a clean 6ft swell from the E, 9-second period, and a light offshore NNW breeze. Energy is 682. A solid, clean morning to finish on.

So, to sum it up: the first few days are a washout, but once you get past Tuesday the 5th, there’s a string of clean mornings. The two standout sessions are Tuesday the 11th morning for the offshore winds and punchy 6ft E swell, and Saturday the 15th afternoon for the rare glassy conditions and 5ft E swell. Both at St-Clair.

Rusty.

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