Empty Lots Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the menu for our local zone. We're only looking at one spot, Empty Lots, and it's a bit of a mixed bag.

The overall pattern is a bit frustrating. The first few days have some size, but the wind is a problem. The standout session is a real gem, but you have to wait for it. There's a long stretch of poor conditions after that too.

We kick off on Tuesday, the 28th of July. The morning is a write-off for a clean wave – we've got a 6.6ft east swell, but the wind is a stiff cross-shore, making it choppy. The energy is strong (1569), but it's messy. The afternoon cleans up a bit with a cross-offshore breeze and a 6.9ft east swell, and the energy is even stronger (1676). It's a "clean" call, but it's still not the best of the week.

Now, the real standout. Skip the rest of the week. Wednesday the 29th morning is a no-go, but wait for the afternoon. That's the one. The swell drops to 2.6ft, but it's a beautiful 14-second south groundswell, and the wind goes glass. Totally flat, clean ocean. The energy is moderate (543). For a reef break like Empty Lots, this long-period south swell will wrap in and offer some incredibly fun, clean lines. It's the best on offer, no question. The water is a normal 79.9° for this time of year.

After that, things go south. From Thursday the 30th morning all the way through to the 9th of August, it's a long stretch of poor surf. The winds are howling across the break, making a mess of everything. The swell sticks around, but it's not worth paddling out for. The conditions are just too rough.

There is a flicker of something interesting on the 10th and 11th of August, over a week away. Long-range, so don't bank on it, but we see a 3.6ft to 4.3ft south-southwest swell with a long 16-second period (energy values of 1370 and 1206). The catch? That cross-shore wind is still blowing strong. It's a promising sign of energy, but it's likely to be lumpy. The 12th of August brings some onshore wind and risk of thunderstorms, so it's not looking like a winner.

For the most part, this is a waiting game. The best call is that glassy Wednesday afternoon session. Everything else is either a battle with the wind or just not worth the hassle.

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