Empty Lots Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a seat. Rusty here, and I’ve gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks look pretty grim for Empty Lots. This is a real dry spell, and we’re looking at a solid 11-day stretch of nothing worth paddling out for.

The outlook kicks off Thursday the 16th of July, and it’s flat and messy. We’ve got a tiny 2ft to 3ft SSW swell, but it’s coming from the wrong direction for this reef, and the wind is a constant cross-shore at 15–22 mph, chopping everything up. The water sits at 80°, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no surprises there. Honestly, it’s a write-off. The combined wave energy is weak, and that’s just not enough to get excited about.

This poor run carries right through the weekend and into the following week. The swell direction swings around to the east on the 19th, but it’s short-period windswell at 8 seconds and still cross-shore. The whole thing is a no-go. By the 20th, we start seeing a bit more energy in the water, but with the same cross-shore wind and a messy surface, it’s still only marginal at best.

The real kicker comes around the 26th of July. The swell starts to build, but it’s still messy. By the 27th, the swell jumps to 8ft to 10ft from the ENE, with a period around 15–16 seconds. That’s a serious groundswell, and the combined energy is strong. The wind finally turns cross-offshore from the NE, which is a huge positive. But here’s the catch: at that size, over 8ft, this is experts-only territory at Empty Lots. It’s a reef break, and with that long period, the waves will be lining up, but it’s going to be heavy. The best of the bunch is the morning of the 27th: 8ft, ENE swell, 16-second period, and a clean, cross-offshore breeze. That’s the standout in this whole 16-day window. It’s still a week and a half away, so it’s promising but not a lock. The afternoon of the 27th and the morning of the 28th also offer clean conditions, with the 28th morning seeing a 10ft swell and a gentle breeze, making it look a bit more manageable.

After that, it drops off fast. By the 29th, the wind swings onshore from the SSE, and we’re back to tiny, weak 2ft junk. The 30th and 31st are just as poor, with cross-shore winds and a messy surface.

So, here’s the takeaway: if you’re an expert and you can wait, the 27th of July is your day. The swell is big, the direction is decent, and the wind will be clean. For everyone else, keep the board in the car and the wax in the wrapper. It’s a long wait, but the forecasts can change, and this spot tends not to stay this poor for too long.

Rusty.

Read more