Emma Wood State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you – the outlook for Emma Wood State Beach over the next sixteen days is a tough one. We've got a long stretch of poor surf quality ahead, so I'll walk you through it.

The first couple of weeks are pretty flat, with only small, weak swells rolling in. From Friday 11 September right through to Sunday 20 September, the conditions are just not cooperating. We're looking at small waves, mostly around 1ft to 3ft, with a lot of onshore or cross-onshore wind. The water temp is sitting at 71°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – that's a 8° anomaly, very unusual indeed. The combined swell energy is weak to moderate, hovering between (110) and (179) for most of this period, which just isn’t enough to get excited about.

There's a brief glimmer on Sunday 20 September afternoon. A long-period groundswell from the southwest at 2ft with a period of 18 seconds pushes the combined energy up to (297). That's moderate energy, but with such a long period (over 15 seconds) at a beach and reef setup, it might break a bit too straight for a good peak. Still, the wind is light and onshore, so it won't be a total washout. It's a marginal call, but it's the only thing that gets close.

From Monday 21 September through to Saturday 26 September, we're back to small, weak swells with poor surf quality. The energy drops back to the (96) to (220) range, and the wind stays onshore or cross-onshore. Nothing worth paddling out for, honestly.

The one true standout, as far as it goes, is Sunday 20 September afternoon. The swell direction (SW) matches the optimal direction perfectly, and the long period (18 seconds) means it'll have some shape, even if it's small. The light onshore breeze is better than the cross-onshore we see on other days, so it could be a session for the beginner-friendly waves at Emma Wood, but don't expect a classic. It's a promise, not a guarantee, being over a week out.

Honestly, for a fairly exposed beach and reef break like Emma Wood, this kind of quiet run is a bit of a bummer. It’s consistent enough here that it tends not to stay this poor for long, so forecasts can change. For now though, I’d keep the board in the car and maybe watch the horizon. If you’re desperate on that Sunday 20 September, you might get a few slow, clean lines, but don't hold your breath.

Rusty, signing off.

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