Empty Lots Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's get into it. For the next couple of weeks, the outlook at Empty Lots is a real mixed bag. We've got some decent swell pulses on the horizon, but the wind is going to be a persistent issue for most of it. This is an advanced reef break, so keep that in mind. The water temp is sitting at about 81°, which is pretty average for this time of year, not too warm or cool.

We start off with a lot of nothing. From Monday the 31st right through to late on Saturday the 5th of September, it's essentially a write-off. We've got a fresh cross-breeze blowing at 18 to 25 mph, churning up a lumpy cross-chop. The swell energy is moderate, ranging from 580 to 965, but with that wind, it's just messy. There's some solid energy building towards the end of the week, but the conditions are still marginal. You're looking at 5ft to 7ft of short-period, 7-8 second windswell from the east. Not worth paddling out for.

Now, things get a spark of life on Monday the 7th of September. Finally, the wind eases up to a moderate breeze from the NE, turning cross-offshore. The swell jumps up to 10ft in the morning and 11ft in the afternoon, coming from the ENE with a solid 12-13 second period. The combined energy is roaring and very strong. That's a real groundswell, meaning better shaped waves and more grunt. This is a pretty big swell, so we're talking only for experienced surfers. It looks like the best window of the entire forecast.

Tuesday the 8th goes sour again fast. The wind swings around to the south, ramming the coast with a cross-onshore breeze, and we even have the risk of thunderstorms. The swell holds at 11ft to 13ft, but it's a mess with confused energy. That one is for the kite crew, not for us paddle surfers.

After that, we slide back into a long stretch of poor to marginal conditions through the second week. From the 9th through to the 15th, it's all cross-shore or cross-onshore breezes again with weak, short-period swell. There is a brief, tantalising moment on the afternoon of Monday the 14th of September. The wind goes glassy, and the swell is a tiny 4ft from the ENE. It’s a small window of clean conditions, but the tide and size need to line up for it to be any good at Empty Lots. Then on the 15th, we get another glassy afternoon, but it's only 2ft of long-period SSW swell. That's a long wait for a tiny wave.

Stick with that Monday the 7th for your best shot. It's not perfect because the wind is not totally offshore, but it's the only time we have real size and clean conditions.

Rusty

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