Chadbourne Gulch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I’m looking at Chadbourne Gulch for the next couple of weeks. It’s the only spot on the menu, so let’s break it down.

Tuesday morning, August 4th, we’ve got a 5ft NW swell at 9 seconds, with a moderate energy (535). The wind is cross-on from the SW at 6 mph, so a little bumpy. Tuesday afternoon is the move: the wind drops to 3 mph and goes glassy, the swell is 5ft, and it cleans right up. That’s the session to hit.

Wednesday, August 5th, is weaker. The swell is 4ft in the morning with a short 8-second period, and the wind is offshore from the WSW at 6 mph, but the energy is low (281). Not great. The afternoon is similar with a 4ft swell and a light cross-on breeze.

Thursday, August 6th, is a wash. The swell is tiny at 2ft from the SW with a long 13-second period, and the energy is weak (170). Friday the 7th is even smaller—1ft to 2ft—with a very long 18-19-second period, but the energy is still low (256-381). Long-period swells at a beach break like this can be straight and crumbly.

Saturday, August 8th, picks up to a 5ft NW swell in the morning, climbing to 7ft in the afternoon, with a short 7-8-second period. The energy is strong (730-880), but it’s cross-on wind from the NW at 6 mph. It’s on the bigger side for beginners. Sunday the 9th, the afternoon swell hits 10ft with a 9-second period, and the energy is very strong (1366). Too big for this spot—only for experts, and the wind is cross-on. Monday, August 10th, is similar: 8ft to 10ft, very strong energy (1971-1483), but it’s too big and messy. That’s kite-surfing size.

From Tuesday the 11th to Thursday the 13th, the swell drops to 6ft to 8ft, with a 9-second period and moderate to strong energy (735-1011). The wind is mostly offshore from the WNW at 6 mph, which is clean. Thursday afternoon, August 13th, is a standout: the wind goes glassy, the swell is 6ft from the NW, and the energy is moderate (740). That’s a clean session.

The second week gets interesting. Saturday, August 15th, the swell drops to 3ft from the SSW with a very long 17-second period, and the energy is strong (1148). The afternoon goes glassy, so it’s clean and small. Sunday, August 16th, is the best of the lot: the swell holds at 3ft from the SSW with a 16-second period, and the energy is very strong (1023-1030). The afternoon is glassy, and it’s called "excellent" for experienced surfers. That’s your standout.

The last few days, from Monday the 17th to Wednesday the 19th, fade out. The swell is 3ft to 3ft from the SSW with a 14-15-second period, and the energy is weak to moderate (398-690). Small and marginal.

Water temp is 56°F, which is about normal for this time of year. Crowds at Chadbourne Gulch can show up sometimes, but it’s inconsistent enough that you’ll likely have space. The best call is Sunday, August 16th afternoon—clean, glassy, and powerful. The rest is picky.

Rusty.

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