Atlantic Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, and I’m looking at what we’ve got for Atlantic Beach. Honestly, mate, it’s a bit of a tough stretch. The forecast is a long one, 16 days from now, but there’s a real gap of poor conditions at the start before we see any kind of window.

Right now, starting from Saturday the 18th of July, it’s a mess. Small, weak swell with a cross-onshore wind just tearing it up. The combined energy is weak, down around 27 (weak energy), and it’s all short-period, choppy junk. This pattern of poor surf and messy wind holds through the weekend and into the start of the next week. The swell does pick up a bit – we see a 6 ft swell from the SSW on Sunday morning, but it’s still cross-onshore and choppy, with the combined energy climbing to 259 (moderate energy). It’s not rideable for a good wave.

The wind stays strong and cross-onshore through Monday and Tuesday, with the swell hovering around 4 ft to 5 ft. The water temp is a warm 83°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Now, the first real standout comes on Thursday the 23rd of July. The morning brings a moderate offshore wind from the north, and the swell is 6 ft from the SSW. The combined energy is strong at 343 (strong wave energy). This is the best we’ve got in the whole window. The wind is offshore, so it’ll be clean. For a beginner, that 6 ft is getting a bit big, but for a competent surfer, it’s got some push. The period is only 7 seconds, so it’s a short-period wind swell, but with offshore wind, it’ll hold up better than it looks. The break is exposed, and the optimum direction is SSE, so the SSW swell is a little off-angle, but it’ll still wrap in. Crowds are often a factor here, so expect some company.

Friday the 24th of July and Saturday the 25th of July see the swell drop back down to 3 ft and 3 ft, with a cleaner cross-offshore wind. The combined energy is weak, around 100 or less. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. Not a standout.

The rest of the window into the first week of August is a mix of tiny swells and poor conditions. The water stays warm, and the wind occasionally swings offshore, but the swell just isn’t there. The combined energy drops to double digits, like 36 (weak energy) on Sunday the 2nd of August, with glassy conditions but no wave to speak of.

So, the one true standout is the morning of Thursday the 23rd of July. It’s the only time the offshore wind lines up with a decent sized swell. Everything else is a wait-and-see or a pass. The forecast is more reliable for the first week; the second week is looking very quiet with small, weak energy. It’s not a total blank, but it’s close.

Rusty.

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