Camel Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the pipe for Camel Rock over the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with you – it’s a bit of a mixed bag, and it’s not gonna be a classic run for the beginner-friendly sandbar here.

The Overall Picture
Right now, the surf is pretty marginal. We’ve got a consistent run of swell from the NW, but it’s almost always accompanied by a cross-onshore breeze. That means the waves will be on the messier, choppier side. The energy is moderate to strong for the first week, hitting between 313 and 1426, but the quality is just not there for a good paddle session.

Wednesday 5th – Saturday 9th August
It kicks off this Wednesday afternoon with a small 5ft NW swell, but it’s cross-on and the energy is weak at 313. Just not worth suiting up for. Thursday and Friday are a write-off with poor conditions, even though we see the swell move through 3ft to 4ft. Saturday morning shows a bit of hope with a 5ft NW swell (energy 428), but the cross-on wind messes it up. By Sunday morning, we’re looking at a cleaner 7ft NW swell (energy 765), and while it’s still cross-on, that light breeze might give you a few cleaner ones if you’re desperate. The water temp is about 55°F which is a touch cooler than average for this time of year, nothing too wild.

Monday 10th – Wednesday 12th August
These are the standout days for size, but with a big caveat. Monday afternoon jumps to a solid 10ft NW groundswell (9-second period, energy 1285), and Tuesday afternoon hits the same size but with a cross-shore wind that’s pushing to 12 mph. That’s expert-only territory – over 8ft is big for a sandbar, and the cross-shore chop will make it a battle. The biggest day is Tuesday afternoon, but frankly, those winds and the size make it look more interesting for the kite crew than for a paddler.

Thursday 13th – Saturday 16th August
The swell stays in the 6ft to 8ft range, but the cross-onshore winds just won’t let up. The energy is still moderate to strong (536–841), but the quality is poor to marginal. By Saturday 16th, we see the swell drop right off to 2ft from the SW, but with a very long 16-second period. That’s a groundswell, but for a beach break like Camel Rock, that long period can make the waves fat and close out straight, and the wind is cross-on again. Not the saving grace we need.

Sunday 17th – Thursday 20th August
The last few days look weak. The second week is pretty quiet. We’re down to 2ft to 3ft swells from the SW and NW. There’s a little pulse on the 18th with a 5ft NW swell, but it’s short-period (7 seconds) and the energy is only moderate at 423. Winds are light, but mostly cross-on or cross-shore. Honestly, there are no standouts here. It stays poor or marginal.

The Honest Take
There isn’t a single day in this 16-day window I’d call a true standout for a good clean surf. The consistent NW swell does bring some size, but the wind direction is against us for almost every session. If you are a beginner, stay out of the water when it’s over 5ft, which is most of the first week. For everyone else, the best bet is likely Sunday morning, August 9th with a 7ft NW swell (energy 765) and a light cross-onshore breeze. It won’t be glassy, but it’s the least choppy of the bigger days. Keep an eye on the forecast, because if that wind shifts, there’s potential. But as it stands, don’t get your hopes up.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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