West Dale Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s get real about West Dale.

Well, I’ve got to be straight with you – we are looking at a rough 16-day stretch here. There’s not a single standout session in the whole window, and it’s going to be a long, frustrating wait. The whole period is basically a write-off.

The trouble starts straight away. The only break listed, West Dale, is an exposed swell magnet, but the wind and swell aren't playing ball at all. The water temp is sitting at 63°F and is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing while you’re watching the flatness.

From Friday, September 4th right through to Saturday, September 19th, the surf quality is consistently rated poor. We start with a strong 6ft WSW swell on Friday, but the W wind is howling at 22 mph – totally onshore and messy. The combined energy is moderate (420) but the wind ruins any chance of a wave. Saturday and Sunday drop to tiny, choppy 3ft or smaller surf, with cross-onshore breeze.

Midweek gets a bit more energy, but not in a good way. Monday the 7th sees a decent 6-7ft SW groundswell with a long 13-second period – the combined energy jumps right up into the strong range (1192-1528). But the wind is still straight from the WSW at 16-22 mph, making it a blown-out, bumpy mess. That big energy is totally wasted. The rest of the week is the same story: plenty of swell direction but always cross-onshore or onshore wind, and the period drops back to a short 6-7 seconds, giving weak, lumpy surf.

The second week is even more depressing. From the 12th onwards we are dropping into tiny 3ft or less surf. Periods are mostly short, with the occasional long period groundswell showing on the 14th and 15th, but with absolutely no size. The combined energy is weak, often below 100. The wind stays tricky – mostly cross-shore or cross-onshore and fresh. There’s one glassy moment on Friday morning the 18th, but that’s with a 0.3ft swell. You could probably float a toy boat, but not a surfboard.

Honestly, if you’re looking to paddle, you’re out of luck. With the persistent strong cross-shore and onshore winds and the consistent choppy conditions, this setup is more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer. The biggest, most consistent swells are completely ruined by the wind.

For the whole 16 days, there is nothing I can recommend. It’s a full-on blank run. Don’t hold your breath; forecasts can change, but this one looks locked in.

Rusty.

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