Empty Lots Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's brewing.

To be honest, for the next 16 days, Empty Lots (reef) is our only option, and it’s a grim one. This spot is a reef break that’s fairly consistent and likes a SSE swell. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

Right from the start, on Saturday 29th August, it’s a no-go. The wind is howling out of the ENE at 25 mph, kicking up a strong cross-shore and creating a messy, lumpy chop. The wave energy is moderate (between 478 and 1259), but the quality is zip. With that wind and the beach/reef setup, you’re looking at a kite-surfing scene, not a paddle-surfing one.

There’s one true standout, but it's a long way off. Circle Sunday, September 6th. In the afternoon, the swell jumps up to a solid 10 ft from the east with a moderate period of 11 seconds. The combined energy surges to strong at 2521, and for a change, the wind turns to a cross-offshore from the NE, finally cleaning things up. This is big, powerful stuff – over 8 ft, so it’s expert-only territory. The period is decent, over 11 seconds, so it’ll have good power but might close out on a straight bank. This is the best you’ll get, and it’s still only marginal.

For the week before that, the wind stays stubborn. From Thursday, 3rd September, we see a few afternoons with a lighter cross-offshore wind and smaller swell (3 ft to 5 ft), but the energy is moderate and the quality is low. After the big day, from September 9th onward, the swell fades fast – down to 2 ft – and the wind eases but stays cross-shore. Energy drops under 600, which is just poor. It’s a long, flat, and crummy stretch.

So, to wrap it up: the whole 16-day outlook is poor. The only flash of something worthwhile is that Sunday, September 6th afternoon, but it’s big and raw, and only for the brave and experienced. Otherwise, keep the board in the car.

Rusty.

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