Empty Lots Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s be straight with you – the next 16 days around Empty Lots are a tough beat. If you’re looking for a clean, rideable wave, you’re going to be waiting a long time. The whole outlook is a grind of cross-shore winds and lumpy, choppy conditions that just won’t let up.

We kick off on Thursday, July 9th, with a messy 5 ft swell from the ENE at a short, jumbled 8 seconds. The wind is a stiff 22 mph cross-shore, tearing the surface apart. It’s a write-off. This pattern locks in for days. The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is about average for the time of year, so at least it’s warm, but you won’t be enjoying it.

The same story repeats through Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th. The swell bounces around between 5 ft and 5 ft, but the wind stays relentless from the ENE at 19 to 22 mph. The surface is a mess of cross-chop. On Saturday afternoon, we see a weird shift – a tiny 2 ft long-period groundswell from the SW (18 seconds) sneaks in, but it’s buried under the same wind. The combined wave energy jumps up to 637, but it’s all noise.

Sunday the 12th through to the end of the first week is the same story. The long-period SW groundswell sticks around (3 ft, 16 seconds), but the wind is a strong 25 mph cross-shore on Sunday morning. The energy is high (742), but it’s all wind mess. This is a classic case where the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing – the wind is strong and cross, but the wave quality is just not there for us.

The second week doesn’t get any better. From Monday the 14th to Saturday the 19th, the swell drops to tiny 2 ft to 3 ft. The wind stays cross-shore from the ENE or E, 12 to 19 mph. The combined energy drops into the 200s and 300s – weak. It’s a total flat spell with no shape.

Finally, on Monday the 21st of July, we get a glimmer. The swell picks up to 4 ft from the E with a very long 20-second period. The combined energy jumps to 1047, strong. But – and it’s a big but – the wind is still a 19 mph cross-shore. The forecast calls it “marginal.” For a reef break like Empty Lots, that long-period groundswell needs clean conditions to shine, and it just won’t have them. It’s a tease.

Tuesday the 22nd holds a similar pulse (4 ft, 16 seconds, 1014 energy), but still with that cross-shore wind. After that, it fades back into the 2 ft to 2 ft range with the same old wind, right through to Friday the 24th.

Honestly, I don’t have a standout day for you. The wind never lays down, and the swell never lines up. The closest thing to a window is the 21st and 22nd of July, but with the wind, it’s more frustration than fun. Hang tight, wait for the charts to change.

Rusty.

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