Empty Lots Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – these next sixteen days at Empty Lots are a real test of patience. We’re looking at a long, stubborn stretch of crummy conditions, so don’t get your hopes up for anything epic. The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The forecast kicks off with a real dud. Thursday the 23rd morning through the weekend is just a write-off. We’ve got a constant cross-shore breeze from the ENE, gusting at 22 mph, tearing up the surface. The swell is tiny, barely 3ft, coming from the SSW, and the period is a short 20 seconds. The combined wave energy is high, over 1000 (1034), but it’s all messy, lumpy cross-chop. It’s poor surf, plain and simple. That theme sticks around through the 24th, 25th, and 26th – the swell hangs around 2ft to 3ft, the wind stays fresh and cross-shore, and the energy stays in the 900 to 1200 range. Just not worth paddling out for.

The 27th and 28th of July aren’t any better. The swell direction swings to the east, but the wind is still cross-shore at 19 mph, keeping the surface chopped up. On the 28th, we see a little bump in size to 5ft from the ENE, but the wind finally starts to ease up a bit. The afternoon of the 28th shows a glimmer of hope with a cross-offshore breeze and clean conditions, but the period is only 12 seconds, and the energy is still moderate at 907.

Now, Wednesday the 29th of July is the best we’re going to get. The morning sees a gentle breeze from the NE at 9 mph, cross-offshore, keeping the surface clean. The swell is 5ft from the ENE, with a 11-second period. The energy is moderate at 678. It’s a marginal day, but it’s the cleanest window we’ve got. The afternoon repeats the pattern with a bit more wind at 12 mph, but still clean. If you’ve got to get wet, this is your window, but it’s not a standout.

After that, it’s back to the grind. Thursday the 30th sees the wind switch to a light southerly, bringing in some clouds and even a risk of thunderstorms. The swell drops to 3ft. From the 31st of July right through to the 7th of August, it’s a repeating pattern of poor conditions. The ENE wind is back in force, often at 19-22 mph, and the swell is a mixed bag of small, weak waves with short periods. On the 2nd of August, the swell height hits 5ft, but the period is a pathetic 7-8 seconds, and the wind is a fresh cross-shore. That’s just a lumpy mess that’s more interesting for kite surfing than paddling. The energy drops to a moderate 592-629.

The 3rd of August looks similar, with a 3ft swell from the east but a long 16-second period. That long period could mean better shape, but with the cross-shore wind at 19 mph, it’ll be a choppy, bumpy ride. The 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th of August are all variations of the same sad story – small swell, cross-shore wind, and poor surf. The 7th of August has a 5ft swell from the ENE, but with a 7-second period and 19 mph wind, it’s just a washing machine.

So, honestly, there’s no standout session here. The 29th of July is the only day that looks even remotely clean, and even then, it’s marginal. For the rest of the run, you’re better off leaving the board in the car. Stay patient, keep an eye on the charts, and maybe the next forecast will have something better for us.

Rusty

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