Cathedral Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking in the lineup for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a solid run of surf on the way, starting this Friday afternoon and not really letting up. The first few days are good, but the real magic is waiting for us further out.

The action kicks off Friday the 7th of August with a nice SW groundswell pushing 6 ft, with a period of 15 seconds. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the WNW at 3 mph. That’s clean, glassy conditions for experienced surfers at Cathedral Rock. The water is sitting at 57°F which is pretty much normal for this time of year. The combined energy is moderate (1935).

Saturday the 8th keeps the good times rolling. Morning and afternoon both have clean, offshore winds from the NNW and N, with the swell holding steady around 6-6 ft. The period stretches to 16 seconds in the morning, which is a proper groundswell. This is a point break, so that long period will set up beautifully. The energy is still moderate (1720). This is a great window for the intermediate surfer.

Sunday the 9th sees the swell drop a bit to 4-4 ft, and the wind picks up. The morning is cross-offshore with a light rain, and the afternoon turns offshore but with a stronger breeze. Still ridable, but the quality drops.

Now, Monday the 10th is where things get interesting. The morning session is a standout. The swell jumps back up to 7 ft from the SW, with a very long period of 19 seconds. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the WNW. This is a point break, so that long-period groundswell will be a thing of beauty. The wave energy is strong (3140). This is the best wave of the first week, without a doubt. The afternoon gets a bit choppy with a cross-shore wind, so get out early.

Tuesday the 11th is another solid day. Clean, offshore winds from the NNW all day, with 6-7 ft of SW swell. The period drops to 14 seconds, but it’s still a quality, clean wave. Plenty of fun to be had.

Wednesday the 12th is a big day, but it comes with a catch. The swell is a solid 10 ft, but the wind is messy. The morning is cross-offshore, so it’s doable for experts, but the afternoon turns into a lumpy, cross-shore mess with rain showers. The energy is very strong (5216). This is big, powerful stuff.

Now, here is the one you’ve been waiting for. Thursday the 13th of August. The morning is absolutely biblical. We’re talking a 16 ft SW groundswell, with a 15 second period, and a light cross-offshore wind from the WNW at 6 mph. The combined energy is a massive 19748. This is a monster, and it’s clean. This is an expert-only session. The power is immense, and the paddle out will be a mission. The afternoon drops to 13 ft but the wind turns cross-shore, so it’s not as good.

Friday the 14th is still very big. The morning is 10 ft with a cross-shore wind, but the afternoon has a 15 ft swell from the WSW with a light cross-shore breeze. The energy is huge (16196). It’s a little rough around the edges, but for the big wave crew, it’s still on.

The swell starts to back off from the 15th onwards, with the wind turning more onshore and cross-onshore. The wave quality drops, and the conditions become choppy. The period stays in the 14-15 second range, so there’s still energy, but the wind is against us.

The 18th of August has a sneaky good afternoon. The swell is 5 ft from the SW, but the period is a very long 18 seconds, and the wind goes glassy from the ESE. That’s a clean, lined-up point break wave. A real treat.

The last week, from the 19th to the 22nd, sees a return to cleaner conditions with offshore winds, but the swell is smaller, mostly between 4 ft and 5 ft. A nice way to wind down the run.

If you had to pick the absolute best, it’s the morning of the 13th for the sheer, raw power and cleanliness, but the morning of the 10th is the most accessible standout for the experienced surfer. The morning of the 18th is a beautiful, glassy dark horse.

Rusty.

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