8th Street Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here, this time in feet and miles. Let’s be honest – this 16-day run for 8th Street Jetty is a tough pill to swallow. I’ve been through the numbers, and there’s not a single day where I’d tell you to wax up and head out. The surf is just too small and the conditions never come together.

The whole outlook is a flat, frustrating stretch. We’re looking at a gap that starts right now and just keeps going. The first few days into September are a write-off, and it doesn’t really get any better as we move through the week. The energy is weak, with the combined energy of all swells directed here barely getting into double digits on most days, often sitting at a measly 9 (weak energy). Even on the rare occasions it bumps up to 75 or 95 (moderate energy), the wave quality is still rated as poor.

The only spot to even talk about is 8th Street Jetty, a beach/jetty setup that’s for advanced surfers only. It’s fairly exposed, but the swell just isn’t cooperating. The optimum swell direction is from the NE, but we’re mostly seeing tiny, short-period stuff from the SE or S, with a period often under 8 seconds—that’s just windswell, no punch.

There is one moment that stands out, but only because it’s so rare in this flat spell. On the morning of Monday, September 14th, we get a moment of glassy conditions with a light NE wind at 3 mph, and a little 1 ft swell from the SE with a period of 9 seconds. The water temp is a very unusual 77°, a full 6° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a real anomaly. But even then, the wave comment says “poor surf conditions,” and the score is a zero. It’s clean, but there’s just nothing to ride.

Later in the window, on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 16th, we get a fresh offshore wind from the WNW at 19 mph, which makes the surface clean, but the swell is only 0.7 ft from the ESE. That’s not surfable. Then on Thursday, September 17th, the morning has a 2 ft swell from the NE, which is the right direction, with a clean cross-off wind, but the period is a short 6 seconds and the energy is still low (65 – moderate energy). It’s a hint of what could be, but it’s not enough for a good day.

Given the consistent lack of quality, and the fact that this is a beach/jetty break, if the wind picks up and the surf stays this poor, it looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. But for us wave riders? It’s a blank run. This kind of flat spell is more normal for the area, so don’t be too surprised. Keep an eye on it—forecasts can change, but for now, I’d find something else to do.

Rusty.

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