Campbells Surf Forecast and Surf Report

What’s up, Rusty here. Let’s break down what we’re working with.

To be straight with you, this 16-day run looks pretty tough. There’s a whole lot of small, weak surf and the wind is mostly coming across the face, killing any decent shape. The swell energy is all over the place but never really cranks for long. There’s no perfect day, but a couple of windows are worth a look.

The first time you can actually get a recommended surf is Thursday morning, August 20th, at Campbells (reef). That’s more than a week and a half away. The water temp is about normal at 81°.

Before that, from August 5th all the way through the 19th, it’s a bust. There are days where the swell energy gets up – like on August 12th, with combined energy of 921 (moderate to strong) and waves around 3ft from the S – but the wind is a steady cross-off from the ENE at 12-25 mph, and the conditions are rated as poor or marginal. No thanks.

The only real standout is Thursday morning, August 20th. This is the only moment in the whole forecast that says “expect good surf conditions.” We’ve got waves at 2ft from the S, with a period of 15 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, and at a reef like Campbells, it should set up nicely with some push. The wind drops off to a light breeze from the E at only 6 mph – that is exactly what you want for a clean, glassy surface. The combined energy is 279 (moderate), so there’s enough in the water to make it fun.

Just know that Campbells is an inconsistent break and it rarely runs. The fact we’re highlighting it means it’s a bit of a rare treat. But with clean conditions, you’ll have company – crowds are listed as “often,” so get there early.

By the afternoon of the 20th, the wind picks back up to a moderate breeze and it goes marginal again. Your window is that first session.

After that, the second week fades back into small, cross-off junk. It’s a long wait, but that one morning in late August is the only real shot at a classic, clean lineup at Campbells.

Rusty.

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