Downtowns Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of surf on the way at Downtowns. The pattern locks in from this Saturday and keeps delivering for over a week. The water temp is about 80°, which is pretty standard for this time of year, nothing unusual there.

We kick off Saturday the 15th with a nice 7ft SSW groundswell (17-second period). The combined energy reading is 2929, so the ocean has got some proper grunt. Winds are glassy from the SSE in the morning and SE in the afternoon. This is excellent, clean surf for experienced crew. The swell direction (SSW) is right on the optimum for this spot. This Saturday is a standout – proper, clean, powerful waves. Get amongst it if you can handle 7ft.

Sunday the 16th starts a bit cross-on, but the afternoon cleans right up with glassy ESE winds and 6ft SSW swell. Very good surf conditions. Monday the 17th stays glassy with smaller 5ft and 5ft SSW swell – easier, cleaner waves for a wider range of surfers. Still good.

Tuesday the 18th picks up again. Morning glass with 4ft SSW swell, but the afternoon cranks with 5ft SW swell and combined energy of 2431. Wednesday the 19th is the big highlight – 8ft and 8ft SSW/SW groundswell with a long 18-second period, glassy winds. Energy is 3615 and 3825. This is top-tier, powerful stuff for experts only. A true standout day.

Thursday the 20th holds solid at 8ft SW (16 seconds) with glassy conditions all day – energy still well into the 3000s. Another cracker. Friday the 21st has a tricky cross-shore morning, but the afternoon turns offshore from the ESE with a 8ft SW swell. Clean, excellent for experts.

The following weekend (Sat 22nd to Sun 23rd) has clean glassy conditions, with swell easing from 7ft down to 5ft. Still very good, much more manageable for intermediate surfers. By Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th, the swell drops to 4ft and 4ft, but the 17-second period on Monday means there’s still some energy (1285) and clean waves. Wednesday 26th is weaker, with lower energy and cross winds. Not a write-off, just a little messy.

Then things fire up again late in the window. Thursday 27th afternoon brings a 6ft SSW groundswell with a long 18-second period and clean winds – combined energy jumps to 2635. Friday 28th gets big again, 8ft SSW, but the cross-shore winds make it a bit choppy. Still a powerful swell for those who don’t mind some texture.

The very end of the outlook (Aug 29-30) shows more solid SW swell, with the 30th seeing 8ft SW and moderate cross-off winds but combined energy climbing to 4475 – that’s a lot of water moving. A bit raw, but the afternoon on the 30th cleans up nicely for a late surf.

Overall, the best of the window lands on this Saturday (Aug 15), Wednesday (Aug 19), and Thursday (Aug 20). That’s where you’ll find the clean, powerful, glassy conditions at Downtowns. Don’t sleep on it.

Rusty.

Read more