Depressions Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get into it. The first bit of the forecast is a tough one for us here at Depressions. The surf is pretty much flat to start, with a tiny 1ft SW swell on Monday, but the wind is junk from the WSW, and the whole setup is just poor. We're looking at a string of days with nothing worth paddling out for. The water's a balmy 70°, which is a whopping 7° warmer than usual for this time of year – feels like a bath, but that doesn't help the waves.

We grind through the first week with nothing but marginal or poor conditions. The swell tries to pick up a little around Wednesday the 26th, with a 2ft SSE swell, but it's still not clean, and the energy is weak (328). By Friday the 28th, we get a bit of a bump from the WNW, but it's a short period (8 seconds) and the wind is messy. It's a real struggle.

The weekend of the 29th and 30th sees the swell energy climb – the combined energy hits 576 on Saturday afternoon – but it's a 6ft close-out windswell with a 6 second period, and the wind is howling cross-on from the west. That's not surfable; that's kite-surfing territory. The following week doesn't offer much redemption, with the same story of cross-on winds and ragged, short-period swell.

But hold on. There's a light at the end of the tunnel. On Sunday, September 6th, things finally turn. The wind goes glassy, dead calm from the SSW. The swell is small, 2ft, but it's a proper long-period groundswell (15 seconds) from the SSW. The combined energy is moderate (388), and the conditions are described as "good". This is the standout. It's a week and a half away, so it's a long-range call, but with those glassy conditions, Depressions will be clean and lined up. That's your window.

Then on Tuesday, September 8th, we get another solid look. The wind is a clean cross-off from the ESE, and the swell is a consistent 3ft S groundswell with a 13-second period. The energy is strong (583), and it's described as "clean". This is the best of the best on offer. It's the full package: decent size, excellent period, and perfect wind. It's a shame it's so far out, but that's the one to circle on the calendar.

So, the long and short of it: the first two weeks are a write-off. Don't get your hopes up. The real action, if the forecast holds, is on September 6th and especially September 8th. Pencil it in, but keep your fingers crossed.

Rusty

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