Chadbourne Gulch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Chadbourne Gulch over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first couple of days are a write-off with poor conditions and tiny waves. Saturday the 22nd is flat with messy cross-onshore wind, so don’t even bother. We have to wait until Sunday the 23rd for anything worth paddling out for.

Sunday morning kicks off with a 5ft cross-on swell from the NW, but it’s short period at 7 seconds and the wind is still light and cross-on. Not great. But then Sunday afternoon – that’s where the first real highlight shows up. The wind goes glassy, and the swell bumps up to 6ft from the NW with an 8-second period. The combined energy hits 599 (moderate), and the conditions are described as “glassy.” That’s the kind of clean surface that makes you want to call in sick Monday. The break is fairly consistent and exposed to the swell, so this is your best bet for the first few days. For beginners, this swell is over 5ft, so it might be a bit much – keep that in mind.

Monday the 24th through Wednesday the 26th is a real lull. Swell drops to 2ft from the SW with a very long 18-second period, but the energy is only moderate (496-581) and the wind is cross-on or onshore. The waves are marginal at best – not worth the drive.

Thursday the 27th sees a bit of a pulse with a 3ft S swell, 15-16 second period, and energy jumping to 896 (moderate). Still, the wind is cross-on from the NW, so it’s only okay. Friday the 28th is similar – a 5ft NW windswell shows up in the afternoon, but the period is a short 6 seconds, and the wind is cross-on. Not clean.

Then we hit a real dry spell from Saturday the 29th all the way through Monday the 31st. The swell is 3 to 4ft, but the wind is moderate cross-onshore, and the energy is dropping. The surf is poor – I’d stay home.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting but also a bit tricky. Starting Tuesday, September 1st, the swell picks up again, but this is now more than a week out, so take it with a grain of salt. Tuesday morning shows a 6ft WNW swell, short period 7 seconds, and light cross-on wind. Tuesday afternoon gets bigger – 8ft from the NW, 7 seconds, but still cross-on. That’s getting into expert-only territory for size.

The real standout for the whole period is Wednesday, September 2nd afternoon. The swell is 10ft from the NW, 8-second period, with the wind going glassy. The combined energy is a whopping 1210 (strong). The forecast says the wind and tide are favorable, but the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. This spot is a beginner-friendly, fairly consistent break, but at 10ft and over 8ft, it’s only for experts. If you’re a seasoned local, this could be a special session if the conditions align. Just be aware that the long 8-second period is not a groundswell, so it might be a bit lumpy at a beach break.

Thursday, September 3rd afternoon also has a glassy 10ft swell from the NW with 8 seconds and 1413 energy (strong) – again, too big for this break.

Friday, September 4th is big, with 10ft NW swell, 10-second period, and energy up to 2725 (very strong) – but the wind is moderate cross-onshore, so it’s going to be a washing machine. For a beach-and-reef setup like this, those conditions look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The best of the second week, and probably the pick of the whole forecast, is Saturday, September 5th afternoon. The wind goes glassy, the swell is a more manageable 7ft from the NW with a 10-second period, and the energy is 1430 (strong). The forecast calls it “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That’s the one to circle on your calendar if you’re an advanced surfer.

Sunday, September 6th morning is still decent – 5ft NW, 10-second period, light onshore wind, but the energy is still 1031 (strong). It’s a good option for the less experienced crew.

Overall, don’t waste your time on the first couple of days. The real standout is the glassy Sunday afternoon on the 23rd for clean smaller waves, and then the big, glassy, expert-only window around September 2nd through 5th. The water temperature is about average for this time of year here, so no surprises there.

Stay stoked, and I’ll see you in the lineup.

Rusty

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