Campbells Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

We’ve got a bit of a sluggish start and a very long run of small, clean, but not very exciting surf. The real standout is a pocket of glassy, long-period groundswell in the middle of next week. The water temp is sitting at 82°F, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real chance to get wet comes Saturday morning, the 15th, but let’s be honest – it’s a blowout. Campbells is showing a 3ft south swell, but that 28 mph northeast wind is a full-on gale. It’s offshore, sure, but you’ll be fighting for every paddle. The wave energy is weak (314) and the period is a long 13 seconds, which would be nice, but the wind makes it a no-go. The afternoon is even worse with 34 mph winds – forget it.

Sunday the 16th sees a bump in size to 5ft from the SSE, but the period drops to 9 seconds, making it a bit of a messy, wind-affected choice. The wind is cross-offshore, so it’s clean, but the energy is moderate (734) and not that well organised. It’s a marginal day, better for a longboard than a groveler.

The whole week from Monday the 17th through to Wednesday the 20th is a grind of small, clean, but ordinary surf. Swells are bouncing between 1ft and 3ft, mostly from the south and southwest with moderate cross-offshore breezes. The periods are long (14-18 seconds), which is a tease, but there just isn’t enough power. The combined energy sits in the low-to-mid hundreds, so it’s weak.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Thursday the 20th through to Saturday the 22nd, Campbells switches on. The swell stays around 2ft to 3ft from the SSW, but the period is a solid 16-17 seconds, and the wind goes glassy. That’s the magic formula. The combined energy climbs to 384, 321, and even 475 on Saturday morning. This is the best window. The break is a reef, so that long-period groundswell will wrap in nicely. It’s an inconsistent spot, so you’ll have to be patient, but when the sets come, they’ll be clean and well-shaped. Thursday afternoon and Friday morning with that glassy surface are the pick of the bunch. Crowds are often here, so expect company.

The following week, from Sunday the 23rd onward, the wind stays mostly cross-offshore, but the energy drops back into the 200-400 range, and the swell remains small. There are some longer-period pulses (14-18 seconds), but the wind is a bit stronger, and the quality fades back to marginal. The last few days of August into the 30th look poor, with weak energy (115-195) and bumpy wind conditions. It’s a frustrating end to the outlook.

So, the call: If you can get out Thursday the 20th through Saturday morning the 22nd, you’ll score the cleanest, glassiest, longest-period waves of the forecast. The rest is a waiting game.

Rusty.

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