Atlantic Terrace Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's be real with you. It’s a bit of a flat spell out here at Atlantic Terrace. This is a beach and reef set-up that needs a decent push of south in the water, and right now, we just aren’t seeing it. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty slim, so don’t get your hopes up for anything world-class.

The first few days, through the 12th, are a write-off. We’re looking at ankle to knee-high dribble, maybe 1 to 3 feet, with short-period, weak south swells. The energy is weak, with combined readings of 49 to just 18. The winds are mostly cross or cross-off, so the surface might be clean, but there’s nothing to ride. It’s a classic waiting game.

Come the 13th and 14th, there’s a slight pulse, but it’s still poor. The swell bumps up to around 2 feet on Thursday morning, but it’s still just that short-period, weak stuff. The energy readings are up slightly to 44, but it’s still under 100, which tells you how weak it is. The wind is offshore on Friday morning, which will make it look pretty, but it’s still just not worth the paddle.

We’ve got a long stretch of nothing from the 15th through the 18th. The swell drops back down to 1 to 2 feet, with energy readings in the teens and twenties. The wind is offshore at times, but there’s just no wave. It’s a heartbreaking run for a spot that wants to work.

The 19th brings a bit of a change. The swell is still tiny at around 1 foot, but the period is a very long 14 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 77. This is a long-period groundswell, which is a good sign for a point or reef, but for a beach and reef mix like this, it can be a bit tricky. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. It’s still not surfable, but you can feel things are trying to shift.

The 20th and 21st stay poor. The 20th has some heavy rain and strong, messy cross-onshore winds with a 2 foot SE swell. The 21st we finally see a bit more energy, with the swell at around 2 feet and winds going offshore, but it’s still very inconsistent and the energy is only in the 60s. It’s just not enough.

Finally, on the 22nd of August, we get our only real chance. It’s still not big, but the swell pushes up to 4 feet with a 5-second period. The energy reading is 96, which is the strongest we’ve seen. The wind is moderate offshore in the morning, which will keep it clean. This is the standout of the whole run, but it’s still just a small, weak, short-period swell. It’s not going to be a classic, but it’s the best we’re going to get.

After that, it fades back out into the 23rd and 24th with more weak, cross-onshore junk.

So, the long and short of it is: there’s one morning on the 22nd that might offer a few fun little ones for a beginner, but for anyone else, it’s going to be a lean couple of weeks. It’s frustrating, but it tends not to stay poor for long. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty

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