Empty Lots Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here.

Honestly, looking at the next couple of weeks, the surf is going to be a real struggle for a while. We’ve got a long stretch of small, messy, cross-shore slop with barely any push. The first decent bit of surfable energy doesn’t even show up until Friday the 22nd, and even then, it’s only marginal. After that, we’re looking at a grim run of poor conditions until the very end of the month. So yeah, if you’re keen, you’re going to have to be patient.

The Long, Flat Haul (16th to 27th)

The first break at Empty Lots kicks off with a stormy note on Sunday the 16th. There’s a bit of swell, around 6ft, but a fresh SE wind and the threat of a storm make it a complete write-off. The energy is weak for the size, around (1268), which says it all.

From Monday the 17th through to the 27th, it’s a real grind. We see a lot of 2ft to 3ft swell, with period around 15-17 seconds. That long period should mean some shape, but the energy is consistently weak, bouncing around (259) to (677). The wind is constantly cross-shore, from the ENE or E, with a fresh breeze most days. It’s lumpy, choppy, and just not worth the paddle. The only small highlight is Thursday the 20th, where the wind drops to a slight air, and we get a clean-ish but tiny 2ft. It’s still too small to get excited about.

Then things get a bit weird on the 26th and 27th. The swell jumps to 5ft and 5ft, but with a terrible 7-second period. It’s just wind chop, and the fresh cross-shore winds will make it a complete mess. Not even worth a look.

The End-of-Month Pulse (28th & 29th)

Finally, on Friday the 28th, we see some actual life. The swell pushes up to 7ft from the E with a period of 11 seconds. This is the standout, with the combined energy jumping right up to (2282) – strong energy. The problem is the wind. It’s a fresh cross-shore ENE breeze, which is going to put a lot of chop on it. This is the biggest surf of the window, but it’s going to be lumpy and challenging. At this size, it’s well over the 5ft mark, so it’s not for beginners, and with the wind, it could be a handful. It’s more interesting for the crew on bigger boards, but the shape isn’t going to be pretty. The water temperature is a warm 81°, which is about average for this time of year, so no dramas with a wetsuit.

The Verdict

If you’re looking for the best of a bad bunch, that Friday the 28th is your only real option. The 7ft to 7ft E swell has real power, but you’ll be surfing with a fresh cross-shore breeze and a bumpy surface. It’s not going to be clean, but it’s the only time there’s any real size. The Saturday the 29th is a step down but still has some 7ft waves in the morning. After that, we drop right back to the tiny, messy stuff to close out the month.

Keep the faith, because a blank run like this won’t last forever. Forecasts can change, and that long period swell on the 20th is a hint we're not completely starved. But for now, the only plan is to wait.

Rusty.

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