Crystals Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – the next two weeks look like a real mixed bag around here. We’ve got a long stretch of flat, weak conditions to start, then a late surge of proper energy to round things out, but you’ve got to be patient.

We’re looking at Crystals (beach/jetty) as our only real option on the cards. The first week and a half is a tough watch. Through the end of August and into the first day of September, there’s just nothing doing – tiny swell with poor quality and lumpy winds. This is classic “leave your board in the car” territory. The water temperature is sitting around 77°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least it won’t be a miserable wait.

On Monday the 31st of August morning, we finally see a hint of something real. The combined swell energy jumps to 146 (moderate wave energy) with a very long period groundswell of 18 seconds coming out of the southeast. The swell is still only 1ft, but that long period and clean offshore wind from the WNW offers perfectly formed little peelers. It’s barely surfable, but for patient surfers who can make the most of tiny, clean groundswell, it’s a glimpse of hope. Crowds are possible at Crystals, and the break is fairly consistent, so you won’t be alone.

The standout, and I mean the real standout, punches through on Thursday the 3rd of September morning. This is the one to circle on the calendar. We’ve got 3ft of swell from the southeast with a 12-second period, blowing in on a clean offshore wind from the west at 12 mph. That’s clean, lined-up conditions. The combined energy hits 364 (moderate wave energy) – this is proper surf. Swell direction matches the optimum from the north-east? Not perfectly, but the quality is there. It’s a little much for beginners at that size, but intermediate surfers will be all over it.

Friday the 4th of September morning keeps the run going with another good session: 3ft from the southeast, light offshore wind from the north, and combined energy at 357. That’s two days of proper, clean surf back-to-back. After that, the energy drops off again with onshore winds and deteriorating conditions. Saturday the 5th pushes 5ft but with a cross-onshore wind and lumpy texture – that’s more of a fight than a glide.

The final few days from Sunday the 6th onwards are a write-off. Winds pick up strong and the swell fades back to nothing.

So bottom line: if you’re hanging for a wave, stay ready for the 31st of August for tiny but clean long-period dribblers, but the real gold lies on the 3rd and 4th of September. That’s your window.

Rusty.

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