Delray Public Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get real about the next couple of weeks. I’ve been staring at the charts for our stretch of coast, and I gotta be straight with you: it’s a tough stretch. We’ve got a lot of days where the ocean is just… flat, or a messy onshore slop that’ll have you fighting for dribblers. If you’re jonesing for a wave, you’re gonna have to be patient, pick your moments, and lower your expectations.

The first week is pretty much a write-off. We’re looking at a lot of ESE winds blowing straight onshore, with the swell holding in that 2ft to 3ft range. The period is short – around 4-5 seconds – so that’s just wind chop, not real surf. The energy is weak, with readings mostly below 80. It’s gonna be lumpy, bumpy, and generally not worth paddling out for a proper session. There’s a blip on Saturday the 8th, where the period jumps to 8 seconds and the swell direction clocks around to the NE, but it’s still only 2ft. That’s ankle-biters at best, and the wind is still on it. A frustrating start.

We’ll see a little bump in size around the 15th and 16th, with the swell pushing up to 4ft. The energy builds to a moderate 108 on the morning of Sunday the 16th, which is the most we’ll see all window. But don’t get too stoked – the period is still a weak 5 seconds, and the wind is cross-onshore from the SSE, which will chop it right up. It’s a mess. For a beginner, that 4ft might be a bit of a handful, but the quality is so poor it’s not really a day for anyone but the most desperate.

The only real glimmer of hope comes right at the end of the window. On Tuesday morning, the 18th of August, we finally see the wind swing offshore, going glassy with a slight SSW air. Swell is small, only 1ft, but the period is a more promising 9 seconds. It’s not going to be big, but it will be clean. The same thing happens on Thursday the 20th, with a NNW wind going glassy and a 2ft SW groundswell. The period is still short, but the clean conditions will make it look 10 times better than it is.

So, here’s the deal. There are no standouts in this window. No day where you’d set an alarm. The best bets, if you’re desperate, are early on the 18th and the 20th of August, when the wind drops out and it’s glassy. You might find a clean little wave at Delray Public Beach on those mornings. It’s a fairly consistent, beginner-friendly spot, and when it’s clean, it can be a fun little wave. The swell will be from the ESE-SE, so it’s not matching the optimum E direction, but on those days, the lack of wind is the main attraction. The water temp is running about average for this time of year, so a summer wetsuit or just a rashie is fine.

This is a two-week stretch where you’re better off checking the cams, doing some maintenance on your board, or grabbing a coffee. The ocean is telling us to take a break. It won’t be poor forever, but for now, patience is key.

Rusty.

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