Empty Lots Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk in feet and miles.

Starting with Empty Lots. It’s a reef break, exposed, and usually pretty consistent. But this 16-day run is frustrating – a lot of wind, only a couple of clean windows.

Right now, on Friday the 21st of August, we’ve got a pulse. The morning has a light SSE breeze, 2-3ft SSW swell with a long 17-second period. Water temp is 81°, which is normal for the time of year. Moderate energy (408). It’s marginal. But Friday afternoon is the real deal: the wind goes glassy out of the SW, the same 2-3ft SSW swell holds at 16 seconds, and energy is at 355. Clean, glassy, and that long period will wrap nicely into the reef. This is your best wave in the first week. Crowds can show up sometimes, but for this quality, it’s fine.

From Saturday the 22nd of August through to Saturday the 29th of August, it’s a write-off. A relentless ENE wind – 18 to 25 mph – destroys the surface. The swell hangs around 2-5ft from the SSW or S, but the chop is brutal. Energy levels bounce from moderate to strong, but it doesn’t matter. Saturday the 29th afternoon gives a brief reprieve with a cross-offshore NE breeze at 18 mph, cleaning up a 3ft E swell. Energy is strong at 735, period 14 seconds. It’s the cleanest in days.

Sunday the 30th of August and Monday the 31st bring more size. Sunday afternoon shows 5ft E swell at 13 seconds, energy cranking to 1097, but it’s messy. Monday the 31st afternoon is the one for experts: 10ft from the ENE, 11-second period, and a cross-offshore NE wind at 15 mph cleaning it up. Energy is very strong at 2138. This is heavy reef wave territory – expert-only. Crowds are likely. This is the standout of the second week.

Tuesday the 1st of September keeps the size but the wind screams at 28 mph cross-offshore. The swell drops to 7ft ENE by afternoon, energy still strong at 1401. Wild, clean, but howling. After that, the swell fades and the wind goes onshore or cross-onshore through to Saturday the 5th of September, with energy dropping to moderate. Nothing special.

So, for the best shots: Friday afternoon the 21st of August – glassy, clean, 2-3ft long-period SSW groundswell at Empty Lots – and Monday afternoon the 31st of August for the big wave crew, 10ft ENE with a clean cross-offshore wind. Everything else is wind-chop or average.

– Rusty

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