Nanwan Beach (South Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about it in feet and Fahrenheit. Nanwan Beach (South Bay) is the only spot in the mix, and it’s a bit of a rollercoaster.

Water temp is about 86°, which is 2° warmer than normal for this time of year. Nothing crazy, just a standard summer warmth.

The first couple of days are a big tease. Thursday the 9th and Friday the 10th are pumping with giant groundswell – 11 to 18 feet from the east, with a very long period of 17 to 18 seconds. The combined energy is huge, between 7662 and 18885, which is very strong. The wind is offshore or cross-off, which would be perfect, but the swell is just too big for this break. The report says it’s predicted to be too big, so even though it looks clean, it’s a no-go for anyone but the most expert.

Then from Saturday the 11th, it all goes to hell. A severe gale on Saturday morning with 50 mph winds, and the swell drops to 16 feet but from the west with a short period of 9 seconds. The conditions are poor, with risk of thunderstorms and gale-force cross-shore winds. This bad run lasts all the way through to Sunday the 14th.

On Tuesday the 14th, the swell drops to around 6 feet, but the wind is onshore from the southeast, making it marginal. The combined energy is weak, around 623 to 828. This continues through the week, with mostly cross-shore and fresh winds, keeping the surf quality low.

The standout is a brief window on Friday morning, the 17th. The swell is 6 feet from the SSW, with a period of 9 seconds. The wind is glassy from the ESE, at 3 mph. The combined energy is only 508, which is weak, but the glassy conditions make it the cleanest surf of the whole outlook. The report says “expect good surf conditions”. It’s a small window, but it’s the only one truly worth paddling out for. The crowds can be often here, so expect some company.

The rest of the outlook through to the 24th is a mess of storms, strong winds, and poor conditions. The swell stays around 6-10 feet, but the wind is always cross-shore or onshore, with risk of thunderstorms. There’s a few days in the second week where it’s clean but the wind is strong, like the 21st and 22nd, but the periods are short and the energy is moderate to strong. The 22nd has a combined energy of 2047, which is strong, but the near gale cross-shore wind makes it a day for the kite surfers, not the paddle crew.

So, if you’re not keen on Monday the 14th or Friday the 17th, there’s not much else. The 14th is marginal, but the 17th morning is the clear winner. The rest of the 16 days are a write-off for quality surf.

Rusty.

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