Empty Lots Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for our local patch.

Straight up, the next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag for Empty Lots, but we’ve got a few windows if you’re patient. The water is sitting at 81° right now, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We kick off Thursday, August 20th, with some small but clean conditions. Thursday morning sees a 2ft swell from the SW, with a very long period of 18 seconds and light onshore winds. The combined energy is moderate (434). It’s pretty marginal though. The real highlight hits Thursday afternoon – the wind goes glassy, same 2ft SW swell, and the period is still a solid 17 seconds. It’s clean, it’s quiet, and if you can get out there, you’ll find some fun little lines. This is the best on offer in the first few days.

Friday the 21st is similar: morning is a bit iffy, but Friday afternoon cleans up again with glassy conditions, a 3ft swell from the SSW, and 16-second periods. The energy is moderate (355). It’s not big, but it’s rideable and uncrowded if you hit the right tide.

Now, brace yourselves. From Saturday the 22nd all the way through to the end of August, it’s a pretty grim stretch. A strong cross-shore wind from the ENE kicks in, blowing 19 to 25 mph, and the surf quality tanks. The swell stays small to moderate, but the wind will chop it up real bad. It’s a long gap of poor conditions – nearly a week and a half of frustration. If you’re into kite surfing, the setup might look more interesting, but for paddle surfing, it’s a write-off.

Finally, we see a glimmer of hope around the end of the first week of September. Monday, August 31st, and Tuesday, September 1st, the wind turns cross-offshore from the NE, cleaning things up. The swell picks up a touch to 4ft – 5ft, though the period drops significantly. The combined energy on the 31st is strong (903), but the swell direction is ENE and the period is short, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and less lined up. Still, it’s the best chance in a while.

Then on Wednesday, September 2nd, we get another clean window with cross-offshore winds and a 3ft SSW swell at 16 seconds. The energy is moderate to strong (874) by afternoon. It’s not a classic, but it’s surfable and clean.

The standout session across the whole outlook? Gotta be Thursday afternoon, August 20th. Glassy, long-period groundswell, small but clean, and the place to yourself. It’s not a bomb, but it’s the best we’ve got.

Stay patient, keep an eye on the wind shifts, and I’ll see you out there.

Rusty

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