Daytona Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Well, folks, it’s Rusty here. I’ve been staring at the charts for the next couple of weeks, and I gotta be straight with you: it’s looking pretty bleak out there. This is one of those stretches where you might wanna dust off the longboard, or maybe pick up a new hobby, because the surf is going to be a major letdown for a while.

The whole 16-day window is a massive flat spell. We’re looking at a solid run of days with nothing on offer. It’s not until the morning of Tuesday, August 25th, that we finally see something that might get you a little wet, and even then, it’s a real struggle. The punch line is, there are no good options out there. It’s a blank run, plain and simple. But hey, that’s the nature of this stretch of coast; it can go completely dead like this. Forecasts can change, so don’t throw in the towel just yet.

The only spot that even registers a pulse is Daytona Beach (Daytona-Beach). Now, this is a sandbar break, and it’s exposed to the swell. The water temp is sittin’ right at 84°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Now, for that one small window of hope. On the morning of Tuesday, August 25th, Daytona gets a faint whisper of life. We’re talkin’ a tiny 1ft ESE swell, with a period of 11 seconds. The energy is weak, a paltry 41. It’s glassy with a slight offshore breeze (SW at 3 mph), which will keep the surface clean. But honestly, it’s still “very ordinary” conditions. It’s surfable, but you’ll be fighting for every ripple. The swell direction is from the ESE, which is close to the optimum, so that’s a small plus.

Then, the next morning, Wednesday, August 26th, is a complete write-off with tiny 1ft, short-period junk. The trend of tiny, weak swell continues. By Friday morning, August 28th, we get a little bump to 2ft from the E (period 10s), but it’s still weak (78 energy). The offshore wind (SW at 9 mph) will keep it clean, but it’s not gonna be a day to call in sick for. The energy just isn’t there.

The only glimmer of anything with a bit of push arrives on Saturday morning, August 29th. The swell ticks up to 3ft from the ESE, with a 9-second period, and the combined energy finally gets into the “moderate” range at 146. The wind is dead calm, glassy. This is, hands down, the best the window has to offer. It’s still under 3ft, so manageable for a beginner, but it’s the most surfable it’s going to get. The direction is decent, the conditions are clean. This is the one to keep an eye on, but even then, it’s a “best of a bad bunch” situation. It’s not going to be a classic, but it’s a chance to get wet.

From there, it fades right back out. So, to sum it up: don't get your hopes up. If you're desperate for a paddle, the morning of the 29th is your best bet at Daytona Beach. Otherwise, the board stays in the car.

Rusty.

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