Nanwan Beach (South Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. Right now, the surf around Nanwan Beach (South Bay) is a bit of a head-scratcher. We’ve got a fair bit of energy in the water, but the conditions are really holding things back. The water temp is sitting at a pretty standard 84°F, so nothing unusual there for this time of year.

The first real chance of anything decent doesn’t come until Saturday morning, the 15th of August. We’re looking at a 6ft swell from the SSW, with a short 8-second period, and combined energy of 496 – that’s moderate. The wind is blowing from the west at 12 mph, giving us a cross-off breeze, which is actually a good thing for keeping the surface clean. But it’s a risk of thunderstorms, so keep an eye on the sky. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best we’ve got early on.

Things go pretty flat and messy for a long stretch after that. From Sunday the 16th all the way through to Thursday the 20th, it’s a mix of poor surf conditions, cross-shore winds, and onshore slop. Nothing worth paddling out for. The 21st of August brings a glimmer of hope Friday morning – a 7ft SW swell, 9-second period, and a cross-off wind from the WNW at 19 mph. The combined energy jumps to 715, which is decent, but the forecast still calls it marginal. It’s clean, but the tide might be playing tricks.

The standout in this whole 16-day window is shaping up to be Saturday the 22nd of August. Both morning and afternoon sessions are showing a 6ft swell from the SSW, now with a 10-second period – that’s a bit more groundswell character. The energy is up around 723-748, and the wind is cross-off from the WNW and then west, blowing at 12-16 mph. It’s clean, the waves should have a bit more shape, and this is the pick of the bunch. The crowds are often around here, so don’t expect to have it to yourself.

After that, we’re back into a messy pattern. The 23rd has some light onshore winds, and from the 24th to the 26th it’s mostly cross-shore chop and poor conditions. Then things get wild – on the 27th of August, we’ve got a massive 18ft SSW swell with a long 11-second period, and the energy is off the charts at 6700. But the wind is cross-on and choppy, so this is purely for the experts. At that size and with those winds, it’s more of a spectacle than a session. It’s also worth noting that with a long period like that, the swell might be breaking a bit too straight for a beach break setup.

The 28th of August drops down to an 12ft SSW swell, still big, but the wind is lighter and more cross-shore, so it might clean up a little by afternoon. Still, not for the faint-hearted. The last few days of the month see the energy drop back down, but the wind stays messy.

So, if you’re looking for the best window, pencil in Saturday the 22nd of August. That’s your cleanest, most rideable swell with the best wind. The rest of the time, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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