Nanwan Beach (South Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's talk about what's on offer for the next couple of weeks. It's a tough look for South Bay. We've got a full 16-day window, but the first week and a half is mostly a bust. The wind is a mess, and we've got thunderstorms lurking around. The first real chance to even think about paddling out doesn't roll around until the 16th of July, and even then, it's a gamble.

From the 11th right through to the 15th, don't bother. We're talking gale-force winds and messy, choppy conditions. There's swell, but it's all short-period, wind-slop. Not worth the paddle out.

The first hint of something surfable comes on the morning of Thursday, the 16th. The swell is sitting around 3.0m from the SSW, with a 9-second period, and the wind drops to a gentle breeze. The combined wave energy is still strong (1317), but the wind is cross-shore, which is a big improvement. It's only rated as a marginal call, so keep your expectations low. The afternoon is similar.

The 17th and 18th are back to poor conditions – strong winds and lumpy seas. The 19th and 20th are a different problem altogether. The swell gets huge, hitting 5.5m on the 19th and 6.0m on the 20th, with the combined energy going through the roof (over 7800 and 11000). That's expert-only, and with the wind blowing hard, it's going to be a messy, dangerous beast. Might be a better day for the kite surfers.

Now, the real standout. The 21st of July (Tuesday) is the best we've got in this entire window. The swell has dropped to a still-sizeable 4.0m from the SW, with a long 11-second period. The wind is a moderate breeze from the ENE, making it a cross-shore. The wave energy is strong (3438). The forecast says the wind and tide are favorable, but the swell is too big for this break. If you're a highly experienced surfer who knows South Bay inside out, this is your window. The afternoon is similar, with a 3.5m swell.

The 22nd and 23rd of July are also worth a look for the brave. The swell is still big, around 3.0m to 4.0m, and the wind is mostly cross-shore or light cross-on. Same warning: it's big, so don't even think about it if you're not comfortable in overhead-plus waves.

The water temperature is a warm 30°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.

Honestly, across the whole 16 days, there's no easy, clean, chest-high day. The 21st of July is the only real standout, and it's a heavy one. For the rest, you're either fighting the wind or the size.

Rusty.

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