Chadbourne Gulch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the stretch ahead at Chadbourne Gulch. The first few days are a bit slow to get going, but there’s a solid pulse building for the second half of the week and into the weekend. The water temp is sitting at 56°F which is a touch cooler than average for this time of year, but nothing a good 4/3 won’t handle.

We start off Wednesday afternoon, August 5th, with a small 3ft swell from the WNW. The wind is cross-on from the SW, so it’s not going to be pretty. The energy is weak, and honestly, it’s a bit of a washout for a paddle. Things are even worse on Thursday morning, August 6th, with a tiny 2ft swell and poor conditions. You’ll be better off waiting.

Friday, August 7th, brings a bit of a longer period groundswell from the SSW, but the size is still only 1ft to 2ft. The energy picks up a bit but the waves are just too small to get excited about. The wind is light offshore in the morning, which is a nice sign, but the swell isn’t there to back it up.

Saturday, August 8th, is where things start to get interesting. The morning still has that small 2ft SSW groundswell, but the afternoon sees a jump to 8ft from the NW. The period is short though, only 8 seconds, so it’s going to be a bit crumbly. The energy is moderate, and the wind is light cross-on. It’s a step up, but not the stand-out.

The real standout comes on Monday, August 10th. The afternoon session is the one to circle on your calendar. You’ve got an 8ft NW swell with a 9-second period, and the wind goes glassy from the WSW. The energy is pumping, and the conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. This is it. This is the best on offer. The swell is a bit big for beginners, but for anyone with a bit of water time, the wave quality and the glassy surface are going to be magic. The break is fairly consistent, but crowds are sometimes around, so be ready to share.

Tuesday, August 11th, is a monster, but it’s a double-edged sword. The swell hits 10ft from the NW with a 9-second period, and the energy is through the roof. The wind is glassy in the afternoon, but the forecast says it’s too big for the break. This is expert territory only, and even then, it might be a washing machine. If you’re a strong paddler and know the spot, go for it, but be warned.

After that, the swell drops back through the middle of the week. Wednesday, August 12th, and Thursday, August 13th, are still rideable at 7ft to 6ft, but the wind is more cross-on. Thursday afternoon, August 13th, does improve with glassy conditions and a 6ft NW swell, so it’s a good option for a quieter session.

The second week is a bit of a mixed bag. The swell fades and shifts back to the SSW. The stand-out in this period is Tuesday, August 18th. The afternoon session brings glassy conditions from the W and a 2ft long-period swell from the SSW (14 seconds). The energy is moderate and the conditions are described as very good. It’s small, but for a clean, long-period groundswell, it’s a nice change of pace.

Then, on Thursday, August 20th, we get one more pulse. The afternoon has a 8ft NW swell, short period of 8 seconds, with glassy conditions and strong energy. It’s a solid end to the run, but not as good as that Monday the 10th.

So, to sum it up: Monday, August 10th afternoon is the clear winner. Tuesday the 11th is for the brave (or stupid). The rest of the time, you’ll find waves, but the quality is hit or miss.

Stay stoked,
Rusty

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