Empty Lots Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Well now, lookin' over the next 16 days for Empty Lots, I gotta be straight with ya – it's a tough stretch. This is a reef break that’s exposed, and right now, it’s just not gettin’ the love it needs. The wind is locked in from the east-northeast for days on end, blowin’ cross-shore and kickin’ up a lumpy chop. The combined swell energy hangs in the moderate range for most of this week, just weak and messy.

From Sunday the 23rd through to the end of August, it’s a write-off. Swell heights bounce between 2ft and 6ft, but with that constant onshore breeze and short period stuff (mostly 7 seconds), the surface is just a mess. The water’s sittin' at 81° – about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. Don’t bother paddlin’ out.

We finally get a little shift come Monday the 1st of September. Tuesday the 2nd and the following weekend show some promise, but it’s marginal at best. On Tuesday afternoon the 1st, the wind swings to a cross-offshore, cleanin' things up. Swell is 3ft from the south with a long 18-second period, and the combined energy is solid. That long period gets the reef workin’ nicely, but the size is small.

The real standout, if you can wait, is Sunday the 6th of September. The morning looks the best of the whole run. We’ve got 6ft of swell from the east-northeast (12-second period) and a cross-offshore breeze from the northeast at 15 mph – that’s clean. The combined energy is pumpin' in the strong range. This is the one to aim for. It’s a bigger swell, over 5ft, so intermediate surfers will find it challenging, and at that size on a reef, you better know what you’re doin’. The direction matches the break’s preferred SSE optimum, so it’ll line up well. It’s a fairly consistent spot, so it’s not a fluke, but crowds are possible on a Sunday, so expect some company.

That Sunday morning is your best bet. The afternoon gets a bit lumpy again as the wind picks up and swings more onshore. After that, Monday the 7th drops back to 4ft on the south swell with moderate cross-shore wind – not worth the effort compared to that Sunday morning window.

So, to sum it up: it’s a long, flat, and choppy wait. The only real highlight is the morning of Sunday, the 6th of September. Get on it if you can, but be ready for it to be a bit of a paddle and a crew in the water.

Rusty.

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