Drakes Estero Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

Alright, so we’ve got a bit of a slow start on the horizon. The first real window of decent surf isn’t until Wednesday afternoon, August 12th. Before that, Tuesday afternoon is looking a bit messy with a cross-shore wind and pretty marginal conditions. So, we’ve got a quiet couple of days to kick things off.

The main story for the next week is a consistent, clean signal from the west-northwest and southwest, but it’s mostly small stuff. The standout window is looking like a real sneaky beauty on the morning of Tuesday, August 25th and into Wednesday, August 26th. That’s where the juice is.

Let’s break it down. The first real chance to get wet is Wednesday afternoon, August 12th at Drakes Estero. The swell is 4ft from the WNW period 9 seconds, and that light cross-offshore breeze from the WNW is going to leave it clean. The combined wave energy is moderate (458). The water temp is about 59°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so a spring suit is the move.

Thursday and Friday, August 13th and 14th, are a write-off for quality surfing. We’ve got onshore winds and small, choppy conditions. Friday afternoon, August 14th, does see a tiny 2ft swell from the SSW with a super long 18-second period, but it’s glassy clean. The energy is moderate (397). It’s a long-period groundswell, so it might wrap in a bit differently at this beach/river-mouth setup, but it’s worth a paddle if you’re desperate for a few clean ones.

The weekend of August 16th and 17th is a bit of a mixed bag. Saturday, August 15th, we have a 3ft SW swell with a 17-second period and a cross-shore wind, so slightly bumpy. Sunday morning, August 16th, is the pick of the weekend with a 3ft SW swell, 16-second period, and a cross-shore wind. The energy is moderate (586). Monday, August 17th, looks clean with cross-offshore winds and a 3ft swell from the SW, period 14 seconds. The energy is moderate (339). Good for a longboard, honestly.

From Tuesday, August 18th and through the next week, it’s a steady stream of small, clean conditions. A lot of 2ft to 3ft swell with those lovely cross-offshore winds. The energy stays moderate (250-481). It’s not pumping, but it’s consistent and clean. Wednesday, August 19th morning looks like a solid little session.

Now, the real standout is the far end of the forecast. The morning of Tuesday, August 25th, we’ve got a 7ft swell from the WNW, but the period is a short 6 seconds. That’s a windswell, and it’s going to be powerful. The combined energy is strong (688). That’s a big jump. The wind is a clean cross-offshore breeze from the WNW. That’s going to be a proper, punchy day. It’s over 5ft, so it’s a bit too much for beginners, but for the experienced crew, that’s a fun, punchy wave. The short period means it’ll be a bit more walled up, but clean.

Then Wednesday, August 26th, the swell drops back to 3ft from the SW, but the period is a solid 16 seconds, and the energy is very strong (654). The wind is light and cross-offshore. That’s a classic, clean groundswell day. The direction is a great match for the optimum swell direction from the SW. This is a long-period groundswell, so it’ll be lined up and have some real push, but it might break a bit straight at the beach. Still, for a morning session, that’s the best of the 16-day window after the 25th.

So, the highlight is the 25th and 26th of August. The 25th is for the power surfers, the 26th is for the clean, long-period glide. The rest of the period is a solid run of small, clean, and consistent conditions. The crowds are possible at Drakes Estero, so keep that in mind.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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