ADs/Doubles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I gotta be straight with you about ADs/Doubles. It’s a tough outlook, a real test of patience this time. Right from the get-go, Thursday morning, the 6th of August, we’ve got a dribble of swell at 1 ft from the SSW, but it comes with a 16 mph cross-shore wind that’s ruining everything. The water’s a warm 80°, which is about normal for the time of year, so at least you won’t be cold while you’re grumbling on the beach.

This first week is a real grind. Thursday through Sunday, the 9th, sees that cross-shore wind sticking around at 16 to 22 mph, and the swell bumps up a bit. By Saturday the 8th morning, we get some size – 6 ft from the ENE – but that wind is just mangling it. The combined wave energy is heading into moderate territory, but with a messy cross-chop, it’s not surfable. It’s just a washing machine out there.

Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th are more of the same. Swell hangs around 4 ft to 5 ft, but that persistent ENE cross-wind doesn’t let up. The period is short and weak, all under 8 seconds, so the waves have no push or shape to them. It’s hard to get excited about any of it.

Then we get a bit of a shift starting Wednesday the 12th. The swell picks up some serious period – 18 seconds – and comes from the south, hitting the coast with a combined energy that jumps right up into the strong range. The height is only 3 ft to 3 ft, but that long-period groundswell should bring some clean, lined-up sets... if it wasn’t for that 19 mph cross-wind still blowing. It’s enough to break your heart. This is the kind of swell that would be a dream with offshore wind, but as it is, it’s a tease.

By Friday the 14th of August, things turn ugly. The swell from the ENE starts pumping: 8 ft on Friday morning, hitting 10 ft by the afternoon, and the wind jumps to 25 mph. The combined energy hits very strong. This is expert-only stuff if it was clean, but it’s not. On Saturday the 15th it gets even bigger, touching 12 ft, with a 28 mph cross-onshore wind. The energy is massive, but so is the mess. Honestly, at this size and with that wind, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The only glimmer of hope comes on Monday the 17th of August. The swell is still big – 10 ft from the ENE – but the morning shows a note that wind and tide are favorable. The combined energy is still very strong, and with the wind dropping to 22 mph, there is a chance for some order. But that is really for the experienced crew. 10 ft is pushing it for most and the cross-offshore wind will make it challenging.

The final days, from Tuesday the 18th to Friday the 21st, see the swell slowly drop back down from 8 ft to 4 ft, but the cross-shore wind is relentless. It never really gets clean.

Honestly, for the whole 16 days, there’s no real standout, nothing you’d call a great day out. If you’re desperate for a paddle, the long-period south swell on Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th had the best potential, but the wind buried it. The one session on Monday the 17th for the experts is the only time the conditions even flirt with being surfable. A long, frustrating outlook for ADs/Doubles. The bank probably isn’t going to look great either after all that wind. Hopefully, the forecasts change.

Rusty.

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