Emma Wood State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: this 16-day window for Emma Wood State Beach is a tough one. The data shows a long stretch of nothing really worth paddling out for. The whole first week and a half are basically a write-off for any decent surf.

From August 24th right through to around September 5th, the waves are tiny, the wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, and the quality is just poor. It’s a real bummer, because the combined swell energy (105) on the 24th is super weak, and even when it bumps up to moderate numbers like 301 on the 26th, the conditions are still marginal at best. The water is currently a very unusual 71°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only noteworthy thing.

There’s a long gap of day after day with no real recommendations. The swell direction is mostly from the SW or SSW, which is the optimum direction for this spot, but it’s just not enough size or clean enough. The waves rarely crack 3 ft, and when they do, like on the 26th, the period is short and the wind is messy.

The only hint of life comes in the second week. On September 4th, Friday afternoon, we see a slight pulse. The swell picks up to 2 ft from the SSW with a 17-second period, which is a long-period groundswell. The combined energy hits 340 (moderate), but the wind is a moderate cross-onshore from the W at 12 mph, which will chop it up. It’s still listed as “poor surf conditions,” so it’s not a standout by any means.

September 5th, Saturday morning, is probably the best of a bad bunch. You’ve got a 2 ft SSW swell at 16 seconds, with a light onshore breeze from the SW at 6 mph. The waves will be small, clean-ish, and the combined energy (257) is moderate. It’s a beginner-friendly height, but don’t expect any power. It’s inconsistent and the crowd profile at Emma Wood is often busy, so expect company for these tiny, slow waves.

Honestly, if you’re looking for a proper session, this forecast is a dud. The setup is a beach and reef, and with the persistent onshore and cross-onshore wind, it might look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing for most of this period. Forecasts can change, but right now, there’s not a single true standout. Keep an eye on it, but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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