Alnes Lighthouse Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again, but this time in feet and knots for the old-school crew.

We’re looking at a long stretch of straight-up lousy conditions at Alnes Lighthouse – a point break that takes swell pretty well, but the wind just kills everything for a solid week and a half.

Water temp is 57°F, so normal for the season. No surprises.

From the 18th through the 25th, it’s a straight run of poor surf. Swell is small, mostly 2 to 4 feet, but the wind is stubborn – strong cross-shore breezes from the north/northeast, 25 to 30 mph. Combined wave energy sits between 169 and 340 (moderate). It’s all cross and messy. The 20th morning is close to 3 feet with a light cross-shore, but still poor. The afternoon of the 24th goes cross-off and clean, but the swell’s barely 2 feet, energy 132 – tiny.

On the 26th (Sunday), we finally get a moment – glassy morning, 3 feet of west swell at 10 seconds, combined energy 201. That’s the first time it looks surfable. The afternoon stays cross-off and clean. But it’s small and “very ordinary.” If you’re desperate, that Sunday morning is your best bet in the first week.

After that, another lull. From the 27th through the 30th morning, it’s poor or very ordinary again, tiny waves and iffy wind. The 30th morning goes glassy, but it’s only 3 feet, 9 seconds, energy 104 – weak.

Now, the end of the run has some size. On the 31st (Friday), we get 4 feet from the west with a 12-second groundswell – long period and strong energy at 646. But the wind is a stiff cross-shore from the WSW at 15 to 28 mph, so it’s lumpy and cross-chop. That period wants a reef or point, but the wind ruins it.

The 1st of August shows 5 to 6 feet from the north, shorter period around 7 seconds, energy 442. Still cross-shore. Then the 2nd (Sunday) pushes up to 6 to 8 feet from the north, 10-second period, and the energy jumps to 1514 (very strong) by the afternoon. That is serious power, but with a near gale cross-shore wind at 31 mph, that’s not for paddling. That’s a kite session, if anything. The wave size is well over 8 feet by the afternoon, expert only and still unmanageable with that wind.

So, the standout? That Sunday morning the 26th – glassy, clean, 3 feet of west swell, moderate energy. It’s small but workable. The 31st has potential if the wind eases, but as it sits, it’s a long-range maybe and not looking clean.

A lot of waiting, a lot of wind, and maybe one or two clean little waves if you time it right.

- Rusty

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