Emma Wood State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Gather 'round, mates. Let's talk about Emma Wood State Beach for the next 16 days.

Right off the bat, I gotta be honest with you – this stretch of coast is lookin' pretty flat and frustrating. The water's a balmy 66°, which is a solid 4° warmer than usual for this time of year, so it feels like a warm bath out there, but that's about the only good news.

We're staring down a long, lean period. The first real chance to even paddle out doesn't come until Monday the 20th, and even then it's a "maybe." The surf is just... not there. For the first few days, from the 16th through the 19th, we've got tiny waves, mostly around 1.0ft to 2ft, with weak energy readings (mostly between 122 and 338). The wind is a cruel joke – it's cross-onshore or onshore from the WSW, chopping up whatever tiny bumps exist. It's a total write-off.

Then Monday the 20th rolls in, and we finally get a whiff of something. The swell picks up to 2ft from the SSW, with a period of 15 seconds, creating a combined energy of 288. The wind is light and onshore, so it's not clean, but it's the first time the report isn't screaming "poor." It's still marginal, just a knee-high bump that's a struggle to ride.

The following days are more of the same grind. The swell tries to build, hitting 3ft from the S on the 23rd and 25th, with the energy climbing into the 400s and 500s – that's moderate energy, but the wind is a persistent cross-onshore, keeping everything messy and choppy. The waves are there, but the quality is cooked. It's the kind of surf you'd paddle out for if you were desperate, but you won't be stoked.

The best of a bad bunch might be the period around Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th. On the 23rd, we've got a 3ft south swell with a 15-second period, and even though the wind is cross-onshore, the energy is building (515 in the afternoon). The 24th has a similar 3ft south swell, but with a 13-second period. Honestly, nothing here is a standout. It's all just... average at best, poor at worst.

The long-range stuff into the last week of July and the 30th and 31st is just more of the same. The swell hangs around 2ft to 3ft, the wind stays cross-onshore from the WSW, and the energy fluctuates. There's no magic window where the stars align.

Look, this is a tough forecast. The crowds are "often" here, so you'll have company even on these tiny, grovelly days. If you're a beginner, the swell is small enough to be safe, but the onshore wind will make it a frustrating session. If you're an expert, there's nothing here to get you out of bed. The consistent onshore wind makes this setup far more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer right now.

This is one of those stretches where the ocean just isn't cooperating. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it, but for now, I'd leave the board in the car and find something else to do.

Rusty.

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