Suicide Cliffs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Overall, it’s a pretty frustrating run for Suicide Cliffs. The wind is just not playing nice for most of the period, and when it does ease up, the swell is small. There’s a couple of brief windows where conditions come together, but you’ll have to be patient to get a clean one.

We kick off on Monday, August 10th, and it’s a no-go. A solid 8ft to 7ft SW swell (11-second period) is rolling in, but it’s being torn apart by a strong 15 mph SE cross-on shore wind. The combined energy of all swells directed here is moderate (2011), but the surf is a mess – choppy and ugly. Forget it.

Tuesday, August 11th, is a bit smaller with 6ft to 5ft S/SW swell, but the wind is still a light cross-on shore. It’s marginal at best, and the energy drops to 1033 and 915. Still not worth paddling out for.

Wednesday, August 12th, the wind shifts onshore in the morning, and the swell drops to 4ft. By the afternoon, it’s a light 3ft cross-shore – still not good.

Now, Thursday, August 13th, is where we get a little taste of hope. The wind swings offshore from the NNE and N, blowing at 9 mph. The swell is modest at 4ft to 3ft from the SW, with an 8-second period and energy around 315 to 238. It’s not big, but it’s clean. Gentle offshore and clean conditions. This is the best you’re going to get for a while. The reef will be holding up, but the swell is small, so it’s more of a longboard or fish session. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so no wetsuit drama.

Friday, August 14th, the wind swings back to the ESE, light cross-on, and the swell drops. Marginal again.

Saturday, August 15th, still light cross-on, 5ft SSW swell, but the wind is a mess. Not worth it.

Sunday, August 16th, we get a brief magic moment in the afternoon. The wind goes glassy, and the swell is 4ft from the SW (9 seconds), energy 273. The “expect good surf conditions” call is on the money. It’ll be small and clean, with that glassy surface making for a fun, mellow session. The morning is still light cross-on, but the afternoon is the standout.

Monday, August 17th, the morning cleans up again with a light ENE cross-offshore wind, 6 mph, and the same 4ft SW swell. Clean. The afternoon gets a bit lumpy with a cross-shore breeze, so get it early.

Then the wheels fall off. From Tuesday, August 18th, through to the end of the forecast, the wind picks up. A fresh breeze from the ESE and E, 18-22 mph, creates lumpy, cross-shore chop. The swell drops to 4ft and then tumbles down to 2ft to 2ft by the 20th. The energy drops to 89 and 76 – that’s weak. Unsuitable for paddle surfing.

There’s a brief spike of 8ft SE swell on Friday, August 21st, but it’s coming with a 15 mph cross-on shore wind and a short 8-second period. Energy is 703, but it’s blown out and choppy. This setup looks far more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer with the combination of size and messy wind.

A couple of distant, poor-quality days follow, and then the last few days (August 24th and 25th) are just small, weak, and chopped up. The best bet in the whole window is the afternoon of Sunday, August 16th, and the morning of Monday, August 17th. Small, clean waves. The glassy conditions on the 16th are the real standout.

Rusty.

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