Empty Lots Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s cut through the noise and look at what’s on offer.

Honestly, it’s a pretty grim picture for the whole 16-day window. The only spot that’s got any kind of forecast is Empty Lots, and I’m struggling to call it surf. This is a reef break that’s fairly consistent in general, but right now it’s just not happening. The combined swell energy starts at a moderate 387, but the conditions are trash right from the get-go. The water temp is sitting at 81°, which is about spot on for this time of year, so nothing weird there.

We kick off on Tuesday, 4th August. There’s a bit of swell hanging around, about 4ft coming from the ENE with an 11-second period, which is decent groundswell energy. But the wind is a cross-on from the ESE at 9 mph, and the wave comment says it all – poor surf conditions. That sets the tone for the whole run. The next morning, Wednesday the 5th, the swell drops to 3ft, period drops to 10 seconds, and the wind is still cross-shore and choppy. It’s a no-go.

Thursday the 6th through to the end of the first week is a write-off. Swell sizes drop to 1ft and 2ft, with super long periods of 14 to 20 seconds – that’s proper groundswell, but there’s no height to it. The wind is howling cross-shore at 19 mph, turning the ocean into a lumpy mess. Even when the swell bumps up to 5ft on Saturday, 8th August, the period is a short 7 seconds and the wind is still 19 mph cross-shore. It’s just not surfable.

The second week doesn’t get any better. From Monday, 10th August, through to Wednesday, 19th August, it’s the same story. Wind is a constant 16 to 22 mph, always cross-shore. Swell heights bounce between 2ft and 6ft, but the periods are either too short (7 to 8 seconds) or too long (14 to 20 seconds) with no power. The combined energy values get up into the 900s, which is moderate to strong energy, but it’s all wind-swell junk. The wave comment for every single time slot is “poor surf conditions.” There is not a single standout.

For a break like Empty Lots, which is a reef, the long-period swells we see (14 to 20 seconds) would normally be a dream, but with zero height and constant cross-wind, it’s a lost cause. The setup here looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, to be honest.

Look, it’s a blank run. There are no good surf options in this 16-day window. The good news is that Empty Lots is a fairly consistent spot, so it tends not to stay this poor for long. Forecasts can change. But for now, leave the boards at home.

Rusty.

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