Towan Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a proper look at what’s on offer around here over the next couple of weeks.

First off, I’ve got to be straight with you – the start of this period is a write-off. We’re looking at Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th, and the surf is just sad. Tiny little waves, around 1 ft to 2 ft on Thursday, and even though Friday bumps up to 5 ft, the swell period is a pathetic 6 seconds with a fresh 22 mph offshore wind. The energy is weak (43–56), and the word is “poor.” It’s not worth paddling out for.

Things start to get a bit more interesting from Saturday the 29th, but it’s still a wild one. The swell builds to 6 ft on Saturday morning from the SW, with a short 7-second period, and the wind is a strong 28 mph cross-off. The energy jumps to 372 (moderate), but conditions are still labelled poor. By Saturday afternoon, the swell hits 10 ft from the WSW, with a 9-second period and a near gale at 31 mph. That’s a big, ugly, powerful wave (energy 1569) – strictly for experts only, and even then, it’s going to be a battle. The wind keeps it messy.

Sunday the 30th settles a bit. Morning brings 6 ft from the W with a 9-second period and a moderate 12 mph cross-off wind. The energy is 473 (moderate). It’s still only a marginal call, with a score of 1/10, but it’s the first session that might be worth a look if you’re desperate. Afternoon has a risk of thunderstorms and a fresh 19 mph offshore wind, but the swell drops to 5 ft. Not great.

The run from Monday the 31st through to Thursday the 3rd of September is a mixed bag of marginal conditions. The swell hangs around 4 ft to 6 ft, mostly from the W, with periods between 8 and 10 seconds. The energy is moderate, anywhere from 162 to 661. The winds are cross-off to offshore, keeping things clean, but the scores are still low (0 or 1). There’s nothing that stands out as a cracker session.

Now, we get to the best of the bunch. Friday the 4th of September. The morning shows 5 ft from the W with an 8-second period, light cross-off wind at 6 mph, and energy of 297 (moderate). The afternoon is the real pick: 6 ft from the WSW, 8-second period, with a clean, moderate offshore breeze at 12 mph. The energy is 385 (moderate). The score is still just 1/10, but compared to the rest, this is the cleanest, most surfable window. The direction is close to the optimum W for Towan, and the offshore wind will keep the faces tidy. It’s not a world-class day, but it’s the best we’ve got.

After that, Saturday the 5th sees a bigger 8 ft swell from the W with a 10-second period and a strong 25 mph offshore wind. That’s strong energy (1036), and the wind is clean, but it’s a real handful. Definitely expert-only territory. The afternoon drops to 6 ft with a cross-off breeze.

Sunday the 6th offers a gentler 5 ft from the W, 9-second period, with a gentle 9 mph offshore wind in the morning. It’s surfable but ordinary. The rest of the second week, from the 7th to the 11th of September, gets messy. The swell fluctuates, but the winds turn cross-shore or onshore, and the energy drops low. Monday the 7th has a 8 ft swell from the WNW, but with a light cross-shore wind, it’s not clean. By Friday the 11th, it’s a 8 ft onshore NE wind disaster. Avoid.

So, if you’re looking for the one to aim for, it’s Friday afternoon the 4th of September. It’s not perfect, but it’s the cleanest, most manageable surf in a pretty grim run. The rest of the time, you’re better off checking the forecast again or taking a break.

Rusty.

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