Nanwan Beach (South Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break it down. We’ve got a run of surf that starts off sketchy but could build to something special. The main break on the radar is Nanwan Beach (South Bay), a beach-and-reef setup that’s fairly consistent and exposed to the southeast. The water temp is 85°F, dead average for this time of year, so no surprises.

The first few days need patience. Monday morning, August 3rd, is a scratch session – only 2ft of east swell, long period at 15 seconds, but light cross-off wind and weak energy (323). It’s clean but just not enough. The afternoon picks up a little, 3ft from the east with a 16-second period and a light breeze, but still very marginal.

Things get more interesting Tuesday the 4th. Morning brings 4ft of east swell, 16-second period, and the energy is building (878). The wind is cross-off from the ENE, keeping it clean. Tuesday afternoon is the first real standout: the swell bumps to 5ft, still from the east, period at 16 seconds, and the wind goes offshore from the NNW. That’s the magic combo – glassy, clean, and the energy jumps to 1149. This is the best early offer.

Wednesday the 5th is the peak of the first run. Morning sees 6ft of east swell with a 17-second period – proper groundswell. The energy is pumping (2220), and it’s clean with a light cross-off. This is excellent for experienced surfers; the wave shape will be solid, but that long period can make the beach break a bit straight. The afternoon drops to a tiny 2ft west windswell, so don’t bother.

Then we hit a rough patch. From Thursday the 6th through to Sunday the 9th morning, the swell gets bigger, but the wind is howling from the west and northwest, 25-30 mph, all cross-off. The waves build from 10ft to 16ft, but the quality is poor. The energy is strong (1017 to 4560), but the wind is tearing it up. Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th have swell too big for this break, over 10ft and 16ft. Kite surfers, take note.

The onslaught continues into the second week. Monday the 10th through Wednesday the 12th is a write-off – near-gale winds, risk of thunderstorms, and 13ft to 18ft swells. The energy is massive (4643 to 7341), but the cross-shore wind and mess mean it’s not for surfing. Thursday the 13th the wind drops a bit, but the swell is still 12ft, too big.

The final stretch, from Friday the 14th to Tuesday the 18th, sees the swell settle back to 6ft to 8ft, from the SW and SSW, with periods around 9-10 seconds. The wind is lighter, mostly cross-off from the WNW. The energy is moderate (611 to 739). These are clean, manageable waves, but they’re rideable, not exciting.

The standout: Tuesday the 4th afternoon. Offshore wind, 5ft east swell, long 16-second period, and clean. Wednesday the 5th morning is also excellent for experienced surfers looking for more power. The second week is promising but less certain, and crowds at Nanwan are often present, so be prepared.

Rusty out.

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