Columbia St Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it. We’ve got a long stretch ahead, and honestly, I’m not going to sugar-coat it—this one’s a bit of a dud for the next little while.

The first real surf we see is a bit of a non-starter. From Monday the 3rd right through to the end of the 16-day window, we’re looking at a persistent run of poor surf conditions. The only break on the radar is Columbia St, a sandbar setup that’s fairly exposed to the swell. The problem is, the swell that’s arriving is mostly from the SE and SSE, and the optimum direction for this spot is from the NE – so it’s a bit of a mismatch.

For the first week, the waves are tiny, generally under 3 ft, and the period is short, in the 6 to 8 second range. That means weak, choppy, close-out shorebreak. The wind is a big issue too. It’s almost always cross, cross-on, or onshore, with a couple of rare clean windows. Tuesday morning the 4th sees a bit of a cross-off breeze with only 1 ft of swell, but the energy is pathetic (15). Not worth a paddle. Thursday morning the 9th has a brief moment of glassy calm with 2 ft swell, but the energy is still weak (52) and the period is short. It’s a tease.

The second week doesn’t get any better. The swell remains small, mostly under 3 ft, and the period is still short. The wind is a mixed bag of cross, cross-on, and the occasional cross-off. The combined energy of all swells directed here only breaks into the three-digit range (114) on the afternoon of Monday the 17th, but even then, the swell is coming from the SSW with a short period of 6 seconds, and the wind is cross. It’s not going to offer anything rideable.

The water temperature is about average for this time of year, no major anomalies, so you won’t need a thick suit, but you will need patience.

Best on offer? There isn’t a standout. The only day that might be marginally less terrible is Sunday the 9th in the morning. It’s glassy, and there’s 2 ft of SE swell. The period is only 7 seconds, so it’ll be soft and lumpy at a sandbar, but if you’re desperate for a float, it’s the best of a bad bunch. Crowds are possible at Columbia St, so you might have some company for the ankle-snappers.

Honestly, this is a blank run. For the area, it’s not unusual to get these long flat spells. It’s more of a kite-surfing setup on those choppy, windy afternoons than a paddle-surfing one. Keep the board in the car, but don’t wax it up just yet. Forecasts can change, but for now, it’s a wait-and-see.

Rusty.

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