Cobblestones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a big run of solid, heavy south swell hitting Cobblestones, but it’s going to be a battle with the wind for most of it. This is a hardcore advanced reef break, and for the first week, it’s mostly going to be raw, powerful, and messy. Let’s get into it.

The week starts Friday, August 7th with a serious pulse of SW groundswell. We’re talking 13 ft to 15 ft of swell with a very long period of 15 seconds, and the combined energy is massive (7932). But the wind is a fresh to strong cross-onshore, so the ocean is going to be lumpy and blown out. The water is 68°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s the only comfort. This is more of a look-and-see day than a paddle-out.

Saturday, August 8th, the swell jacks up even bigger. The morning sees 21 ft and the afternoon hits 23 ft from the SW with periods hitting 16 seconds. The combined energy is off the charts (19056 and 24772). The forecast says wind and tide are favorable, but honestly, that size at a reef like Cobblestones is for absolute experts only. For anyone else, it’s a day to watch from the cliff.

Sunday the 9th through Thursday the 13th, the swell drops back to a still-considerable 15 ft to 18 ft, but the wind remains onshore or cross-onshore, and the conditions are poor. There’s a lot of energy (9954 to 12871) but it’s all wind-affected. It’s a tough stretch.

Now, we start seeing a light at the tunnel. Thursday afternoon, August 13th, the wind swings onshore but is lighter, and the period stretches to 17 seconds. The waves are still 15 ft but the conditions are more marginal than terrible. Friday, August 14th, we get our first real taste of clean surf. The swell drops to 11 ft with a moderate breeze from the N, giving us a clean, cross-offshore wind. It’s still a powerful SW groundswell, but the shape should be there. It’s a solid, if not epic, day.

The standout, and the one to circle on your calendar, is Saturday, August 22nd. After a couple of weeks of wind and wild surf, the stars finally align. We’ve got a clean 13 ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period, and the wind goes offshore from the E. The combined energy is strong (7549 to 11631). The forecast calls for exceptional surf conditions for expert surfers. This is the day. The sets will be clean, the lines will hold up, and the reef will be firing. Expect crowds to be possible at this spot because everyone will know it’s on. If you can handle the size and the power, this is the session of the forecast period.

Before that, there are a few other promising windows. Monday and Tuesday, August 17th and 18th, offer 16 ft waves with a clean cross-offshore wind from the N. The swell direction is a little more westerly, but the conditions will be clean. It’s a strong second option.

The very end of the period, Friday August 21st and into Saturday August 22nd, sees the wind staying clean from the SE and E, with the swell holding at 13 ft to 15 ft. This whole run from the 21st into the 22nd looks like the best consistency and quality we’re going to see. The long-range outlook for the 22nd is promising but less certain, so keep an eye on it.

So, the bottom line: the first week is for the hardcore only, with big, messy surf. The second week cleans up, and Saturday, August 22nd is the clear standout for a top-quality session at Cobblestones.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty

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