Cherry Hill Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's take a long hard look at what's on the menu for Cherry Hill over the next couple of weeks. I've gotta be straight with you – this ain't a classic stretch. We're looking at a real lean run, with nothing in the standout category. It's a tough outlook for a beginner-friendly spot like this.

The general pattern is small, weak, and mostly messy. There are a few moments where it *might* be worth a paddle if you're desperate for a splash, but you'll have to keep your expectations in the gutter. The water temp is sitting at 69°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – so at least it'll be pleasant sitting out there waiting for a wave.

The first few days are a real letdown. Saturday afternoon (4th July) delivers poor surf conditions with a tiny 3ft SSW swell pushing through, but that 9 mph cross-onshore breeze from the WNW has it all chopped up and weak. The combined swell energy is moderate at 478. Sunday (5th July) offers a glimmer with the morning session showing a 3ft SSW swell and a very long period of 18 seconds – that's proper groundswell energy (513). But the wind is still messy cross-onshore, and the forecast tags it as marginal. That long period will struggle to stand up properly at a beach break like this, tending to just roll through straight and fat.

Monday morning (6th July) finally sees the wind go cleanly onshore from the West at 9 mph. The swell bumps up slightly to 3ft, still SSW, with a 16-second period pushing moderate energy (538). It's still considered marginal, but that onshore wind is at least clean. Tuesday morning (7th July) might be the pick of the first week – we get 3ft of SSW swell with a good 18-second period, and the wind is light onshore from the WSW at 9 mph, so it should be reasonably clean. The combined energy is strong at 859. Still, the forecast only calls it marginal, so don't expect perfection.

From Wednesday 8th July through until the middle of the second week, it's a grim stretch of poor surf conditions and tiny waves. There's a solid five or six days where you can safely leave your board in the garage. The swell drops right off, sometimes down to 1ft or 2ft with weak energy readings (down in the 100s and 200s), and the wind is mostly cross-onshore or onshore. It's not worth a second look.

The tail end of the forecast, around Saturday 18th July and Sunday 19th July, sees a minor pulse of energy trying to build. Saturday morning shows 3ft from the SW with a 17-second period and moderate energy (538), but the cross-onshore breeze from the WNW will spoil the surface. Sunday afternoon looks a little more interesting – 3ft from the S with a 16-second period, strong energy (893), and a light 6 mph cross-onshore wind that might keep it rideable. Still, the forecast only gives it a marginal nod.

For a beginner-friendly break like Cherry Hill, it's a frustrating run. I wouldn't rush for any of these sessions. Keep an eye on that Sunday 19th July afternoon as the best of a bad bunch, but even then, keep the hopes low and the wax soft.

Stay patient. It tends not to stay this poor for too long.

Rusty.

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