Empty Lots Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ at Empty Lots (reef) over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, the start of this period is a bit of a struggle. The wind is pinned cross-shore from the ENE, and it’s blowing a solid 25 mph on Friday the 24th, making a mess of things. The swell is small, around 2 ft to 3 ft from the SSW, but with that strong breeze and cross-chop, the water’s all lumpy. It’s a rough start, and the energy is moderate, sitting around 936 to 1211.

Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th are much the same story – cross-shore winds and small, choppy surf. The waves are hanging around 3 ft to 3 ft from the SSW, but the wind just won’t let up. It’s frustrating, but this is a reef break, so the shape is there, just not the conditions.

We finally get a bit of a window on Monday the 27th afternoon. The wind swings to a cross-offshore angle, and the waves bump up to 4 ft from the E. The water is still a bit choppy but it’s cleaner. The energy is moderate (927). Still not a standout, but a step in the right direction.

Now, Tuesday the 28th of July is where it gets interesting. The morning is the real standout. The wind drops to a gentle breeze from the NE, swinging cross-offshore, and the swell jumps to 8 ft from the ENE. That’s a solid size. The period is 13 seconds, a nice groundswell, and the energy is strong (3127). This is for experienced surfers only, as it’s over 7 ft, but the sets will be clean and powerful. Crowds are possible, so be ready to share.

Wednesday the 29th still holds some promise. The morning is clean with a light breeze from the N, and waves are 8 ft from the ENE again. The period drops to 11 seconds, but the energy is still strong (1497). Excellent conditions for the experienced crew. The afternoon sees the wind swing to WSW, making it a bit cross-shore, and the swell drops to 6 ft from the E.

After that, the outlook goes a bit flat again. From Thursday the 30th of July through to Saturday the 2nd of August, the wind is back to a fresh cross-shore, and the swell is mostly in the 3 ft to 6 ft range from the E. The period is short (8 seconds), so the energy is a bit weak and the waves are lumpy. Not much to get excited about, and the water is a bit messy.

We get a brief reprieve on Wednesday the 5th of August. The morning is clean with a light breeze from the NE, and the swell is 4 ft from the ENE. The period is 11 seconds, so there’s some shape. The energy is moderate (507). It’s a promising morning, but the crowds are possible. The afternoon gets a bit cross-shore again.

The final few days, from the 6th to the 8th, are a real letdown. The swell drops to 1 ft to 2 ft, and the wind is onshore or cross-shore. The energy is very weak (44 to 367). There’s a risk of thunderstorms on the 7th and 8th, so it’s not worth paddling out.

The best of the bunch is hands-down Tuesday the 28th of July. The big, clean 8 ft ENE swell with a 13-second period and a light offshore wind will be a treat for the advanced crew. The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.

Rusty.

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