Nanwan Beach (South Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for Nanwan Beach (South Bay). We’ve got a decent pulse of swell, but the wind is going to be the main character in this story, so we’ll need to pick our windows carefully.

The water’s sitting at a warm 84°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real shot of surfable waves comes in on Thursday morning, August 20th. We’ve got a 8ft swell from the SW, with a 9-second period. The combined energy is already up there at 913 (moderate energy), and with a light 10 km/h WNW breeze keeping it cross-offshore, the conditions will be clean. This is a solid, fun-sized day for an intermediate surfer. The swell ticks up through Thursday afternoon into Friday, but the wind gets rowdy. Friday morning, August 21st, sees the swell peak at 10ft from the SW, with a 10-second period and a massive 1912 combined energy (strong wave energy). However, the wind is a fresh 35 km/h from the W, making it a tough, bumpy session. That size is pushing into expert-only territory, and the quality is marginal.

The standout window, and I mean the real gem in this 16-day run, is Wednesday, August 26th. The swell holds at 6ft to 7ft from the East, with a 16-second period. That’s a very long period groundswell, which will wrap beautifully into this beach-and-reef setup, offering well-shaped, powerful lines. The combined energy is a whopping 2279 to 2633 (strong wave energy). The wind goes light and variable—10 to 15 km/h from the NE, keeping it cross-offshore and clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The long period means longer waits between sets, but the paddle-out will be easier, and the waves will be worth the patience.

Thursday, August 27th, is also a treat. The morning starts glassy with a 5 km/h WSW breeze, and the swell is 5ft from the SW. By the afternoon, the wind drops to absolute calm (0 km/h), glassy conditions, with the swell picking up to 6ft. That’s a beautiful, clean day for a more relaxed session.

After that, the wind becomes a problem. From Friday, August 28th, through the end of the run, the wind is onshore or cross-shore, and the swell drops off. The last week of August and into September sees poor surf conditions with weak, choppy waves. We’re looking at a long gap of at least 5 to 6 days of flat, wind-blown junk.

So, to sum it up: Thursday the 20th is a solid, clean start. But the absolute best is Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th. That’s your window for the best quality, cleanest waves. Get out there.

Rusty.

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