Dolphinarium Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty comin' at ya from the beach. Let's get into it, and I gotta be straight with you: the next week and a half is a real struggle. We’re looking at a long, dry spell of tiny, weak waves and ugly winds before a late pulse of energy finally shows up.

The water is sitting at a warm 86° here at Dolphinarium, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won't need a wetsuit.

Looking at the immediate forecast, it's a pretty grim scene. From Sunday the 23rd all the way through to Saturday the 29th of August, the swell is tiny, mostly around 1ft to 2ft, with a short, weak period of 5 to 7 seconds. The combined energy is pathetic, barely cracking 20 to 40 for most of those days. Even when the wind lays down flat and glassy on Monday the 24th morning, Tuesday the 25th morning, and Wednesday the 26th morning, the swell is just too small to push anything rideable. The afternoon sessions are a write-off, with cross-onshore and onshore winds chopping up that already tiny bump.

There's a slight glimmer on Saturday the 29th morning. The swell bumps up to 3ft from the WNW with an 8-second period, and the combined energy finally hits 100, which is in the weak-to-moderate range. The wind is glassy, which is a major positive. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. Still, if you're desperate and have a log, you might get a few knee-high dribbles to yourself. The crowds here are only *sometimes* an issue, so on a flat spell like this, you'll have the place to yourself.

The next few days are more of the same tiny, gutless stuff until we hit Sunday the 6th of September. The morning of the 6th sees a 3ft swell from the WNW with a weak 6-second period and glassy wind. It’s a step up, but still not great.

Now, listen up. The real standout, the one to circle on the calendar, is Monday the 7th of September. The morning session is the best on offer by a mile. We’ve got a 4ft swell from the NW, which is right in the optimum direction for this spot. The period stretches to 8 seconds, so it’s got a bit more shape and energy, with a combined energy of 212 (moderate). The wind is glassy, absolute perfection. That is going to be clean, fun, head-high surf. It’s not a monster, but after this long drought, it’s a proper little window. The afternoon turns to junk with a cross-onshore wind, so make sure you get it in the morning. Also, keep an eye on the Sunday afternoon before it – the 6th – the swell jumps to 6ft from the NW with a 9-second period and a huge combined energy of 539, but it’s showing onshore wind. That's a lot of juice wasted, but it’s the source for that clean Monday morning.

So, to sum it up: you’ve got a week of flatness, a few barely rideable glassy mornings on the 29th and 30th, and then one true standout morning on Monday the 7th of September. That’s your window.

Rusty.

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