Suicide Cliffs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Suicide Cliffs over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a massive pulse of southwest groundswell roaring in, and I mean massive. The combined energy hits 13342 (moderate to strong energy) on Thursday morning, but the swell is a solid 16 ft from the SE with a 16-second period – that’s a long-period groundswell. This is a reef break, so that long period should wrap in nicely, but the wind is a cross-off at 35 km/h. It’s clean, but that’s a lot of water moving. By Thursday afternoon, it’s even bigger: 20 ft, 17 seconds, combined energy of 22472. The wind stays cross-off at 40 km/h, and the water temp is 84°F with a tiny anomaly of +0.5°F, so pretty average for this time of year. This is expert territory, no doubt. The swell is too big for the break according to the forecast, so this is for the big-wave crew only.

Friday is just insane. Friday morning has 30 ft at 18 seconds from the SE, energy of 51471, and a cross-shore gale at 37 mph. Friday afternoon goes to 34 ft, 18 seconds, with 68357 energy and a gale-force cross-shore at 43 mph. This is not surfing, this is survival. The wind is tearing the place apart. Kite surfers might be having a field day, but for paddle surfers, it’s a no-go.

Saturday continues the madness. Morning sees 41 ft from the S at 17 seconds, combined energy of 140795, with a gale-force cross-on at 43 mph. Afternoon drops to 23 ft from the SSW, but still gale-force cross-on. Completely blown out.

Sunday the 12th and Monday the 13th the swell drops, but it’s still messy with fresh to moderate cross-onshore winds and lumpy, choppy conditions. Not worth paddling out.

Tuesday the 14th through Thursday the 16th the swell gets tiny (2 ft to 5 ft), and while we get a bit of glassy conditions on the 15th morning and 16th morning, the waves are just too weak with combined energy only around 150. It’s ordinary.

Then we get a glimmer. On Sunday the 19th, a new SW groundswell fills in. Sunday morning has 6 ft from the SW, 13-second period, combined energy of 1686, and the wind is offshore from the NNE at only 10 km/h (6 mph). That’s glassy, clean, and the swell direction is right on the optimum for this spot. The water is still warm. This is the standout. It’s a nice, solid, long-period groundswell with clean conditions. Not for beginners, but for experienced surfers, it’s excellent. The crowd factor here is "often", so expect plenty of company. After that, the run goes flat and choppy again.

So, the best on offer is hands-down Sunday the 19th morning. That’s the one to circle. The rest of the 16-day window is either too big, too windy, or too small. There’s a long gap of flat or poor surf from the 12th through the 18th, so don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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