Boulders Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's break it down. This forecast is a bit of a mixed bag – there’s some size, but the wind is going to be a real buzzkill for most of it. The only chance for a clean wave is right at the start.

Tuesday, August 18th is the day. Boulders is picking up a long-period groundswell out of the SW, running about 4 ft to 5 ft. The key here is the wind. Tuesday morning it’s a light cross breeze at 3 mph, but by the afternoon it goes glassy – dead flat. That’s a massive positive. The water temp is 80°F, which is about average for the time of year. The combined swell energy is moderate, reading 960 in the morning and building to 1143 in the afternoon. With that 16-second period, these are groundswell waves with real punch. Boulders is a reef, so that long period will wrap in nicely and not just close out. It’s a consistent break, but crowds are sometimes a thing, so keep your head on a swivel. This is the one to aim for.

Then it all goes south. From Wednesday, August 19th right through to the end of the forecast, the wind swings onshore and just doesn’t quit. We’re talking cross-onshore winds blowing 9 mph all the way up to a nasty 25 mph. That’s going to ruin everything. The swell sticks around, with heights bouncing from 3 ft to 8 ft, and the energy gets strong, hitting a big 3291 on Saturday the 22nd, but with that wind, it’s just a lumpy, choppy mess. Not for paddle surfing. Kiteboarders might have a field day, but for the rest of us, it’s a write-off.

There’s a glimmer right at the end around Monday, August 31st and into early September, with some bigger 8 ft to 8 ft ESE windswell showing up. The period is short, 8 to 9 seconds, and the wind eases back a bit to a cross-shore direction. But the quality is still listed as poor, so it’s not going to be clean. It’s a long shot.

So, the takeaway: get your session in on Tuesday afternoon. After that, it’s a long, windy gap. Don't hold your breath.

Rusty.

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