Emma Wood State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into the outlook for our local stretch.

Well, I gotta be straight with you – this 16-day window is looking pretty grim. We’ve got a long stretch of poor surf conditions ahead, with the first few days offering nothing worth paddling out for. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, which is going to chop up whatever small swell we have. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real chance to even think about a wave comes around Sunday afternoon, July 26th, but even then it’s a marginal call. The swell is tiny at 2 feet from the SSW, and the wind is a light cross-onshore. It’s not going to be pretty, but it’s the first flicker of life. The combined energy is moderate at 318.

From Monday the 27th through to Tuesday the 29th, we see a consistent but weak pulse of SSW swell, around 2 feet, with periods around 17-18 seconds. That’s long-period groundswell, which would generally be promising, but the wind is still onshore for most of it, keeping things messy. The combined energy is moderate, ranging from 301 to 427. Monday morning looks the best bet of this bunch, but it’s still a “poor surf conditions” call.

The last week of July and into August 1st, we see a slight shift. The swell picks up to 3 feet from the S on Saturday morning, August 1st, with a period of 14 seconds and light onshore wind. Combined energy is a moderate 382. It’s still marginal, but it’s the best we’ve seen. The standouts? There aren’t any true standouts. If I had to pick one, it would be Saturday morning, August 1st, at Emma Wood State Beach. It’s a beach and reef setup, fairly exposed to the SW swell, though the swell is coming from the S. The wave quality isn’t going to be world-class, but with a 3 feet swell and light winds, it might offer the cleanest, most rideable waves of the whole period. Expect crowds, as it’s often busy.

After that, the swell collapses again. By Sunday, August 2nd, we’re back to 2 feet and dropping. The energy drops to a weak 148 by Sunday afternoon. The last few days of the forecast, from August 3rd to the 6th, are a complete write-off with tiny, weak swells and onshore winds. The combined energy dips below 100, which is very weak.

So, to sum it up: it’s a long, flat, and mostly choppy period. The only real window is Saturday morning, August 1st, and even that’s a marginal call. Keep your expectations low.

Rusty.

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