Dahomey Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty.

Let’s be straight with you. Right now, and for the next two weeks, it’s looking pretty grim out there. The setup just isn’t on for a proper surf. We’ve got a long stretch of days ahead where the conditions are just not cooperating.

Looking at Dahomey, the water is sitting at a very warm 77°F, which is 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s a notable anomaly, but it doesn’t mean much for the waves.

The first couple of weeks are a total write-off. From Sunday the 12th all the way through to Thursday the 16th, the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the energy just isn’t there to do anything with it. The combined swell energy is low, dropping from a weak 133 down to 54 by Wednesday. These are tiny, weak waves and messy conditions. You’d be wasting your time.

Finally, on Friday the 17th, there’s a small window. Friday morning we get a light cross-offshore breeze from the NE at 6 mph cleaning things up. The swell is a weak 4 ft from the NW with a short period of 7 seconds. The combined energy is 167, which is still weak. The report says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” and I agree. It’s the only clean session in the whole run, but it’s not going to be anything to write home about.

After that, it’s back to the same story. The cross-onshore winds return, and although the swell bumps up a bit – hitting 6 ft on Sunday the 19th with 509 combined energy – the wind ruins it. That’s a moderate wave energy, but with a constant cross-onshore chop, it’s not going to be a fun paddle. For a beginner spot like Dahomey, anything over 5 ft is already too much, and with the wind all over it, this is definitely not the time for a learner.

The second week pretty much repeats the pattern: moderate swell sizes (around 5 ft to 6 ft) with moderate wave energy readings (in the 200-380 range), but the wind stays mostly cross or cross-onshore. Nothing cleans up properly. The only other moment of interest is on the 24th and 25th (Friday and Saturday), where the wind is light enough to maybe make it look less terrible, but it’s still listed as “marginal.”

Honestly, the only session that’s worth even looking at is Friday morning, July 17th. It’s not a classic, but if you’re desperate and need to get wet, that’s your only shot at something clean. Don’t hold your breath for the rest.

- Rusty

Read more