Chadbourne Gulch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here, and I’ve got a look at the coming swell window for Chadbourne Gulch. Straight up, this is a stretch of small, inconsistent, and often wind-affected surf, with only a few windows that will get a local’s heart beating. The first real surf worth paddling out for shows up on Friday, September 4th.

We start the period with a lumpy, confused ocean. Friday morning, September 4th sees a 6ft NW groundswell rolling in with an 11-second period, and the wind is clean offshore from the west at 3 mph. That’s a decent combo, but the file notes marginal conditions due to tide, and the energy is solid at 1392 (moderate to strong). The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. If you’re keen, that Friday morning is your best early bet, but be aware it’s a beginner-friendly spot and crowds are sometimes an issue.

The swell drops off fast. Saturday and Sunday, September 5th and 6th, bring a much smaller 3ft to 4ft SSW groundswell with a very long 15-16 second period. That long period stuff can be tricky at a beach break – it tends to lurch and close out – but with light offshore winds, it might offer a few clean lines for the patient surfer. The energy drops to 595-988, so it’s weak to moderate.

The standout for the entire outlook, and I mean the real bright spot, lands on Thursday afternoon, September 10th. The wind goes glassy from the north at 3 mph, the swell is a clean 3ft SW groundswell with a 17-second period, and the energy jumps to 1069 (moderate). The file says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers,” and that’s a rare call for this spot. The direction is a near-perfect match for the optimum WSW swell direction. This is the one to circle on the calendar. Friday morning, September 11th, also looks promising with a 7ft S swell (9-second period) and glassy conditions, but that size is pushing into expert-only territory, and the shorter period means it’ll be a bit dumpy.

After that, the second week turns into a waiting game. From September 12th onwards, the swell stays small, mostly under 3ft, and the wind is a persistent cross-onshore from the NW. There’s a brief pulse of WNW swell around 6ft to 8ft from September 17th to 19th, but it’s riddled with strong cross-onshore winds (up to 22 mph) and short, weak periods (7-8 seconds). By September 18th, with 10ft of messy NW swell and fresh wind, this setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The combined energy hits 1218, but the quality is poor.

So, the takeaway? If you’re a local, you’ve got a couple of truly glassy, clean windows in the first week – especially Thursday the 10th. The rest of the run is a washout of small, choppy, or blown-out conditions. The good news is Chadbourne Gulch is fairly consistent in its offering; it tends not to stay poor for long, and the forecasts can change. But for now, pick your days carefully.

Rusty.

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