Chicahauk Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next couple of weeks at Chicahauk.

First up, the water temperature is sitting at 84°, which is a whopping 4° warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s well above average, so you’re looking at a very warm surf.

The honest truth is, the first ten days or so are pretty flat. Swell heights stay tiny, mostly between 0.7 ft and 2 ft, with weak energy levels (most readings are under 60). The winds are often cross or cross-off, but there are a few glassy moments on the mornings of the 22nd and 26th. Even then, the waves are just too small and weak to get excited about. The Saturday morning of the 22nd has a glassy window with a 1 ft ESE swell, but it’s a storm-risk day and the energy is just 49 – it’s rideable but very ordinary. You’ll get a few ankle-biters, but nothing to write home about.

There’s a real gap here. From the 22nd, through the 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, and into the 31st, conditions are almost all "poor surf conditions" with tiny swell. A few mornings on the 26th and 30th offer a glimpse of clean-looking surf, but the swell is still 1 ft to 2 ft – barely enough for a longboard.

Now, hold on to your boards, because things change dramatically in the first week of September. The standout window kicks off on Wednesday, the 2nd of September. The morning brings a clean 5 ft swell from the NNE, with a light offshore wind from the WSW. The combined energy jumps to 245 – that’s moderate energy, and it’s a proper groundswell with a period of 6 seconds, which is short, but the offshore wind should keep the surface clean. Chicahauk is a sandbar, exposed to the east, and this NNE swell is a good direction for it. The water is still warm, and this is the first real surfable size in a while.

But the real highlight is Friday, the 4th of September. The morning looks epic. We’re looking at a 8 ft NNE swell, combined energy of 835 – that’s strong wave energy. The period is 7 seconds, so it’s a bit short-period, but the wind is offshore from the SW at 9 mph, meaning clean, glassy conditions. This is expert territory at this size, but for those with the skills, it’s going to be pumping. The Friday afternoon ramps up even more to 10 ft from the NNE with energy hitting 1293, but the wind turns cross-off from the south. Still, that’s very powerful surf, and given the size and energy, it’s only for the experienced crew. Because of the size, this could be a bit much for beach breaks, but Chicahauk’s sandbar setup might handle it.

Bottom line: there’s a lot of waiting for the first week of September, but the 2nd, 3rd, and especially the 4th are the ones to circle on the calendar. That Friday morning of the 4th is the best bet – solid swell, clean conditions, and strong energy. Take it with a grain of salt for the long-range, but it’s looking like a ripper.

Rusty.

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