Tullan Strand Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s look at what’s on the table for Tullan Strand over the next couple of weeks. Gotta be honest, the start is a bit of a bust – plenty of messy days before we see anything worth paddling for.

The water here is 17°C, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, running about 3° above average – that’s a real treat for your skin when you’re sitting out there.

The first few days are pretty rough. Monday the 31st of August through the start of September is all onshore and cross-onshore winds, with chop ruining the waves. The energy’s there sometimes, hitting 253 on Tuesday afternoon, but the wind’s killing it. Wednesday the 2nd of September morning goes offshore and clean, but the swell is tiny at only 2ft with weak energy (57) – hardly worth suiting up.

Friday the 4th of September brings a big pulse of heavy, messy swell – 12ft waves with a 13-second period and energy cranked up to 4112. But the wind is a strong cross-onshore, turning it into a total washing machine. That one’s for the kiteboarders, not for a paddle surfer. Way too big for beginners and completely blown out.

Now, Saturday the 5th of September morning is where we get a proper window. A nice long 11-second groundswell from the WNW at 6ft (672 energy), with light cross-offshore breezes. The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is the standout of the whole run – clean, lined-up waves that will hold their shape. Perfect for intermediate and better surfers.

Sunday the 6th drops right back off. Monday the 7th is still poor. But Tuesday the 8th of September morning looks promising again – offshore winds from the SSE, 4ft swell at 8 seconds from the WNW, with “expect good surf conditions.” It’s smaller and shorter period than Saturday, but it’ll be clean and fun for the early session.

After that, the second week gets gnarly again with strong winds and rain, until we get to Saturday the 12th of September. That morning sees a tiny but clean 1ft wave from the NW with a very long 14-second period. It’s “surfable but very ordinary” – more of a longboard cruiser session.

Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th of September bring big swell again, with 12ft and 10ft sets, and energy readings are massive (2567 to 3829). The wind stays cross-off or cross. The waves will be powerful and clean-ish, but at over 8ft it’s expert-only territory, and the long 13-second period means it’ll be fat and fast at a beach break – better suited to a reef or point. Still, for the brave, Tuesday the 15th morning might offer some heavy, clean walls if you’ve got the nerve.

Crowds are listed as “sometimes” for Tullan Strand, and on the better days you can expect a few locals out but nothing crazy.

Overall, Saturday morning the 5th of September is your best bet – first light, clean, solid groundswell. Tuesday the 8th is a good backup. The big days on the 14th and 15th are for experts only and a bit tricky for the break shape.

Rusty.

Read more