Depressions Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get stuck in. I’m Rusty, and I’ve been watching this stretch of coast for years. We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag coming up, but there’s a glimmer for those who can wait.

First up, we’re looking at Depressions for the foreseeable future. And honestly, for the next week or so, it’s pretty bleak. The water’s sitting at 69 °F, which is over 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s very unusual, you can feel it in the air. But that’s where the good news ends for a while.

From Sunday the 23rd right through to the end of August, we’ve got tiny, messy swell. The predominant swell is coming from the SW with a period around 18 seconds, which is long-period groundswell, but it’s only pushing 1 ft. The combined wave energy is weak, sitting around 176-200 (that’s two-digit territory). The wind is mostly a light cross-onshore breeze, which just puts a ripple on it. It’s small, it’s poor, and it’s not worth the paddle.

We hit a dead patch for several days. By the 29th and 30th of August, the swell does start to bump up – we see 4 ft, then 6 ft on the Sunday afternoon – but the period drops to 6-9 seconds, and the wind turns moderate cross-onshore. That combo just churns it up into a choppy mess. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a clean paddle wave.

The first real glimmer of hope doesn’t arrive until Saturday the 5th of September. Early morning, we’ve got a light cross-offshore breeze from the east, keeping things clean. The swell is still modest at 3 ft, but it’s from the SSW with a solid 16-second period. The combined energy is strong, hitting 607. The wind description is “clean,” and the forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” This is the standout session on offer, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on the forecast.

Then, Sunday the 6th of September morning is promising too. The wind goes glassy – calm, no ripple – with a 3 ft SSW swell at 14 seconds. That’s a beautiful window of clean, smooth surf. After that, it drops off again into weaker, shorter-period stuff.

So, to put it bluntly: the next 10 days are a write-off for anything decent. Hang tight, wait for that Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th of September. Those are your best bets for a clean paddle. Everything else is just a waiting game.

Rusty.

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