Chicahauk Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. We’re lookin’ at a pretty bleak 16-day stretch for Chicahauk. Honestly, it’s one of those runs where the ocean just isn’t cooperating. Nearly every day is tagged with poor surf conditions, so if you’re itchin’ to get wet, you’re gonna have to be patient and pick your moments. There’s a big gap of nothin’ worthwhile until we finally see a flicker of life in the first week of September.

Starting off from Wednesday the 19th of August, it’s a struggle. The swell is tiny, barely 1 ft from the ESE with a weak period of 9 seconds, and on top of that we’ve got a cross-onshore wind messin’ it up. The wave energy is a measly 37 (weak) – not even worth paddlin’ out for. Thursday the 20th is smaller still, though the wind swings cross-off in the morning with a light breeze, so it goes clean, but with only 1 ft and 8-second swell, it’s just flat sheets of water. Friday the 21st sees a brief pulse of 3 ft on a short 5-second period from the NNE, but it’s accompanied by a risk of thunderstorms and a cross-onshore breeze – the combined energy bumps to 51 (weak), but it’s still poor.

Saturday the 22nd is the first time we see a “surfable” call, but that’s bein’ generous. The morning brings a clean 1 ft from the ESE with light offshore W wind, but the energy is only 36 (weak). The afternoon is slightly better, with 1 ft from the E and a combined energy of 45 (weak), but the wind is light and cross-off – you could catch a knee-high dribbler if you’re desperate. Sunday the 23rd through to Tuesday the 25th is more of the same: tiny 0.7 ft to 1.0 ft swell, some clean windows but absolutely no push. The energy levels are all below 41 (weak).

Now, there’s a weird couple of days around the 26th and 27th of August. The waves stay small, but the combined energy jumps. On Wednesday mornin’ the 26th, a 2 ft SSE swell with 7-second period shows combined energy of 63 (weak), but it’s cross-on and rippled. The afternoon sees 2 ft from the SE with energy of 109 (moderate) – first time we hit triple digits – but the wind is onshore and the conditions are unknown. Then Thursday the 27th slams us with strong NNE winds at 25 mph, cross-on, and a 2 ft ESE swell with a 12-second period. The energy hits 235 (strong) in the mornin’ and 143 (moderate) in the afternoon, but it’s a mess – strong cross-onshore, lumpy, and ugly. Not for surfin’, that’s for sure.

Friday the 28th is the biggest energy of the whole run, with a 3 ft SE swell (10-second period) and a combined energy of 285 (strong), but again it’s pinned under 25 mph cross-on winds. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are still windy and messy, with energy droppin’ back to weak levels. The last few days of August and the start of September are a write-off – tiny swell, cross-shore or onshore winds, and no quality.

Finally, on Wednesday the 2nd of September, we get a glimmer. The mornin’ shows a 1 ft ESE swell with a lovely 13-second period – that’s a proper groundswell – and the wind is light offshore from the west. The combined energy is 121 (moderate) and the conditions are clean. It’s only a 1/10 score, but compared to the rest, this is the standout. That longer period means the waves will have shape and some punch, but it’s still small. Thursday the 3rd of September mornin’ has 3 ft from the ESE at 10 seconds, energy 115 (moderate), with light cross winds and a light breeze – surfable but still ordinary.

So, the best on offer? Without a doubt, Wednesday mornin’ the 2nd of September. It’s not gonna be pumpin’, but with that offshore wind and a 13-second groundswell, Chicahauk might actually show a bit of form. If you can wait that long, that’s your window. Everything before that is a skip.

Stay patient, and keep checkin’ the charts. It won’t stay this poor forever.

- Rusty

Read more