Suicide Cliffs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what Suicide Cliffs has got cooking for us over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you. The first week and a half is a bit of a write-off. We’ve got a long gap of grim conditions. The story starts out rough with a mix of storm risks and fresh to strong onshore or cross-shore winds that are going to turn the sea surface into a lumpy, choppy mess. Even when the swell gets some size, the quality is just not there for a paddle session. On Thursday the 21st of August we see a pulse of 7ft from the SSE, but that cross-onshore wind is just ruining it. This stretch looks far more suited for a kite than a surfboard. It’s a long dry spell, but we’ve got some light at the end of the tunnel.

Now, hang in there. Things finally start to clean up as we roll into the end of the month. By Wednesday morning the 26th of August, we see a change. It’s only small, 2ft from the SW with a period of 10 seconds, but the key here is that wind swinging offshore from the NNW. Gentle offshore and clean surf. The wave energy is low (130), so it won’t be big, but it’s surfable and clean. This trend holds through the end of the month, with clean conditions and increasing swell energy as we hit the first few days of September.

The real standout, the one you want to circle on your calendar, lands on Wednesday afternoon the 2nd of September. This is the pick of the outlook. The swell jumps up to a solid 10ft from the NW. Now, that’s a big boy swell, over 8ft, so this is only for the experienced crew. But the wind is gentle and cross-offshore from the ENE, keeping that surface clean. The combined wave energy kicks into high gear at 1330, showing there’s some serious power in the water. This is excellent, powerful surf for those who know what they’re doing at a wave this size. The period is a bit short at 8 seconds, so it’s not a classic long-period groundswell, but the energy and the clean conditions make it the clear highlight.

The morning of the 31st of August and the 1st of September also offer some promising windows with cleaner, smaller options in the 3ft range from the S and SSW, with a longer 11 to 12-second period, making for a better shaped wave. The moderate offshore and light breezes will keep those lines clean.

So, to sum it up: a long, windy, poor start, but the second week cleans up dramatically. Don’t sleep on that Wednesday afternoon the 2nd of September for a serious session, but leave the beginners on the beach for that one.

Rusty.

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