Chadbourne Gulch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what we’ve got on the cards for Chadbourne Gulch.

Right off the bat, it’s not a classic start. We’re looking at a fairly drawn-out run of small, marginal surf through the first half of this period. There’s no standout quality anywhere in the first week and a half. The first few days from Saturday 15th through to Tuesday 18th see a clean but tiny SSW swell hanging around the 3ft to 4ft mark, with long periods between 14 and 17 seconds. That’s proper groundswell character, and the light offshore west or northwest breezes will keep the surface glassy—especially on the mornings when it’s straight offshore. That’s a major positive for how clean it’ll be. But with the combined energy only sitting between 451 and 703 (moderate at best), the reality is it’s pretty weak. The water is sitting at 55°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year.

Come Wednesday 19th, the swell direction swings to the NW and the period drops right off to 7 seconds. The height pushes up to 6ft to 6ft, but that short period means the energy is mushy and a bit messy. The combined energy picks up a little to 739–881, but the cross-onshore breeze keeps it from being clean. Not really one to get excited about.

Thursday 20th sees a brief drop back to small SSW swell again, with heights down to 3ft, and then Friday 21st brings the NW back in at 6ft to 6ft. The period stays short—just 7 to 8 seconds—so again it’s more about push than quality. The wind is light, sometimes straight offshore on the afternoon, but the cross-onshore mornings will put a bit of texture on it. Combined energy sits between 605 and 754.

The weekend of Saturday 22nd to Sunday 23rd is similar: NW swell at 5ft to 6ft, short period, light breezes. The energy is moderate at 447 to 638. It’s not terrible, but nothing about it shouts ‘go session.’

From Monday 24th through Wednesday 26th, we settle into a steady pattern of 4ft to 5ft NW swell with 8-second periods. The light offshore winds keep it tidy, and the combined energy sits between 563 and 701. It’s a consistent run of small, clean waves—fine for the beginner-friendly setup here, but nothing to call home about.

Now, the real standout pops up later. On Thursday 27th afternoon, we see a shift: a 3ft S swell with a 16-second period pushes combined energy up to 870. That’s still moderate, but it’s a hint of something better. Friday 28th morning sees that S swell build to 4ft, 13-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 1130—that’s moderate to strong. The wind is a gentle cross-onshore at 9 mph, so it’ll be a little choppy.

But the real highlight is Saturday 29th afternoon. The swell jumps to 10ft from the NW, with an 8-second period, and the combined energy rockets to 2100—that’s strong. The wind is light offshore from the WNW, and the forecast notes wind and tide are favourable. However, at 10ft, this is going to be too big for this break. This one’s for experts only, if anyone even paddles out. Sunday 30th follows a similar theme: 7ft in the morning, then 12ft in the afternoon with 2043 energy. Again, too big for Chadbourne Gulch. The wind stays light, so it’ll be clean, but it’s just too much wave for this spot.

So, if you’re patient, the best bet on offer is the tiny, clean SSW groundswell from Saturday 15th through Tuesday 18th. It’s small, but with light offshore winds and that long-period glide, it’ll be the most user-friendly and lined-up the break will see for a while. The later surge at the end of August is a big, powerful swell, but it’s simply too large for this break to handle. Keep an eye on that one if you’re an expert, but otherwise, the early mornings next week are your window.

Rusty.

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