Suicide Cliffs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get one thing straight right off the bat: Suicide Cliffs is a reef setup, very consistent and exposed to the swell, and it likes it from the SW. But for the next 16 days, this stretch is looking pretty bleak. The water temp is about average for the time of year.

We start the forecast period and there’s a big fat gap. From Tuesday the 15th right through until late Thursday the 18th, there’s nothing rideable. You’re looking at clean conditions, but no swell to speak of. You’ll taste that cross-off breeze from the NE, and the water will be glassy-looking and frustrating.

Friday morning, 18 September – a tiny pulse tries to show. We’re talking a 1ft swell from the S, with a short period of 8 seconds. The combined wave energy is weak at 22 (22). It’s not worth paddling out for, but at least the wind is still light cross-off from the NE, keeping it clean. This level of dribble sticks around through Saturday, 19 September. Swell is still a pathetic 1ft from the S and 8 secs. The energy picks up a little to 44 but it’s still poor. The wind goes straight offshore from the NNE in the afternoon, which would be great if there were any waves.

Sunday, 20 September – total dud. No swell, just a strong offshore wind from the N at 25 mph. The water will be blown smooth, but impossible to paddle into. This dry spell and brutal wind holds through Monday, 21 September and Tuesday, 22 September. Tuesday sees a tiny 0.3ft ripple from the SE with a period of 10 seconds, but a howling W cross-shore near-gale makes it a total write-off.

Wednesday, 23 September – we get some tiny 1ft wind swell from the WNW, period a meager 6 seconds. The energy is still weak (14). Wind is cross-off from the NW at 16 mph, so it’s clean, but there’s just no push. Same story on Thursday, 24 September: tiny 1ft NW swell in the morning, glassy offshore wind from the N – looks pretty, but it's just a knee-high ripple.

Then another dead stretch from Saturday, 26 September through Monday morning. Nothing doing.

Now, here’s the one standout, and it takes some patience to get there.

Sunday, 27 September – finally, some proper ocean energy. That morning we get a 7ft SE groundswell with a long 13-second period. That’s good, solid size. The combined wave energy hits 1634 (1634) – that’s moderate to strong energy. The wind is a strong cross-off from the NNE at 25 mph though, so it won’t be glassy. In the afternoon, the wind goes strong offshore from the NNE at 28 mph, actually making it clean but those conditions will make paddling out a real battle. The swell drops to 6ft from the SE, period still a nice 13 seconds. This is expert territory – over 5ft, definitely not for beginners – and with a long period, the reef at Suicide Cliffs will handle it better than a beach break, giving you some nice lines. The crowd situation? It’s often busy here, so expect company.

That’s the only real pulse on offer. After that, it’s back to gale-force winds and flat seas the rest of the way to the end of September. If you’re not an expert and you can’t wait for that Sunday window, don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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