Black Rocks Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

We’ve got a solid run of surf ahead starting this Thursday afternoon, August 20th, and it keeps building. The early action is worth keeping an eye on, but the real standouts are later in the run.

Kicking off Thursday afternoon at Black Rocks Jetty, the water’s already a touch warmer than what’s typical for this time of year, sitting at 77°. Swell is small at 2 feet from the southwest with a long 15-second period. The wind is totally glassed out, so you’re looking at clean, tidy conditions, even if the size is modest. Combined swell energy is weak (289), so it’s more about the smooth surface than power.

Friday morning the 21st, the swell picks up to 4 feet, still a long 14-second period out of the southwest, and the wind stays glassy. That’s clean, fun-sized surf. The wave energy climbs to moderate (611), so there’s a bit more push. Friday afternoon the wind turns cross-on, so the morning is definitely the call.

Saturday the 22nd looks excellent. Morning comes in at 5 feet from the southwest with glassy winds, and the combined energy jumps to moderate-high (901). The afternoon actually hits a 4/10 scoring threshold: 5 feet again, period 13 seconds, glassy conditions, and energy up to 1055. Those are clean, well-shaped waves for intermediate and above.

Sunday morning the 23rd is where things get serious for stronger surfers. The swell is 8 feet from the southwest, a 14-second period, with glassy northwest wind. Combined energy is strong (2155). That’s proper groundswell, powerful, and with those long-period gaps between sets, paddling out is a little easier despite the size. This is pushing the upper end of what’s comfortable for most.

Monday the 24th holds similar size at 7 to 8 feet from the south-southwest, with glassy mornings and clean afternoons. Ideal conditions for experienced surfers.

Tuesday the 25th sees a drop back to 6 feet in the morning and 5 feet in the afternoon, both with glassy winds. Very good, clean surf.

Then Wednesday the 26th gets a bit messy. The morning is onshore, and the afternoon brings a 12 mph southerly cross-on with choppy conditions. That’s a skip.

Now here’s the standout: Thursday morning, August 27th, the swell hits 8 feet from the south-southwest with a 16-second period. The wind is cross-off at 6 mph, so it’s clean. Wave energy is very strong (3290). By the afternoon, energy jumps even higher to 4913. This is excellent for experts.

Friday, August 28th is the best on offer. Morning comes in at a solid 13 feet from the south-southwest, a 17-second period, and glassy conditions. The combined energy (9364) is exceptional. This is a serious groundswell, powerful and very long-period. That volume of energy is rare. The afternoon stays 13 feet but with a light cross-on breeze, so the morning is the pinnacle.

Saturday the 29th backs off a bit to 10 feet in the morning and 8 feet in the afternoon, still glassy and strong. Sunday the 30th starts dropping further. The run from August 31st into early September has smaller swell, mostly under 4 feet, with mixed wind and a lot of marginal conditions. There’s a nice little spike on September 3rd morning with 3 feet and a 16-second period, glassy winds, and moderate energy (586), but by then, the big stuff is long gone.

To sum it up: the pick of the entire 16-day window is Friday morning, August 28th, at Black Rocks Jetty. That 13-foot southwest groundswell with a 17-second period and glassy wind is as good as it gets for experts. Next best is Thursday the 27th with 8 feet, clean cross-off wind, and very strong energy. Everything before that from the 20th to the 26th offers some nice clean, smaller days, but the real fireworks are in the final week of August.

Stay safe out there. This is big, powerful water.

Rusty.

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