8th Street Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, buddy, grab a coffee and let me walk you through the next couple of weeks. If you’re looking for a proper surf, you’re gonna need some patience. There’s a long quiet spell at the start.

Overall Pattern
Right from the jump, things are looking flat and pretty average. The water’s sitting at 77°F, which is about 4°F warmer than what’s normal for this time of year – that’s way above average, so you’ll feel that difference. Swell energy’s weak, barely cracking 100, and the wind’s shifting all over. We’ve got a real dry spell for surfers for the first week and a bit.

Detailed Run

Friday, August 28 kicks off with a tiny 2ft ESE swell, period at 8 seconds, and a cross-on breeze from the S at 3 mph. It’s a poor setup, and the energy is only 49. Afternoon gets messier with a risk of thunderstorms. Saturday (29th) and Sunday (30th) are the same story – weak swells, poor quality, and wind either cross or cross-on. Nothing to get worked up over.

Monday, August 31 afternoon gives us a brief breather: the wind goes glassy, but the swell’s still only 2ft from the SE with an 8-second period. Energy hits 29. You could have a quiet, clean float, but it’s not really surfable.

Then we hit a dead zone. From September 1 right through to the morning of September 7, it’s a whole lot of nothing. Swells stay under 2ft, periods are short, and the winds are messy. The combined energy barely cracks double digits most days. On September 3 and 4 we get some clean offshore and cross-off winds from the NW, but the swell just isn’t there. It’s kite-surfing weather, not paddle surfing.

The Best of a Quiet Period

The only real standout in the whole 16 days is Monday, September 7. That morning, at 8th Street Jetty, we finally get a bump. The swell sits at 2ft from the E with an 11-second period – that’s a proper long-period groundswell, giving the waves some shape. The combined energy jumps to 110, the first time we’ve seen triple digits. And the wind? Glassy – dead calm. That makes for clean, tidy little waves. It’s the best on offer, even though it’s small. The direction (E) isn’t perfect for the jetty (NE is optimum), but the lack of wind and the long period will still give you a few fun, well-formed runners. Keep in mind the break is “very consistent,” but it’s for advanced surfers only. Crowds are “often,” so expect company.

After that morning, Monday afternoon goes messy with a cross-on southerly again, and Tuesday (Sep 8) is back to flat and forgettable. Wednesday through Saturday the 12th stay poor – tiny swells, wrong winds, and energy levels dropping below 50 again. Not worth the drive.

Wrap-up
Honestly, if you’ve got a kiteboard, the lighter wind days might suit you better. For the rest of us, the only real window is the morning of Monday, September 7, at 8th Street Jetty. It’s small but clean. Everything else is a write-off.

Rusty.

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