Empty Lots Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, giving you the straight-up word on Empty Lots for the next couple of weeks.

This reef setup is a tricky one. The whole 16-day window looks pretty bleak, to be honest. We're looking at a long stretch of nothing special, with a persistent cross-shore wind that's going to mess up any chance of decent surf for most of it. The water temperature is sitting at 82°F, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no drama there.

Right from the start, Wednesday the 26th through to the end of August, it's a write-off. The swell is there, but it's all soupy. Even when there's a bit of size, that ENE wind is smashing it flat, leaving a lumpy cross-chop. The energy is moderate at best, with combined swell energy readings of 666, 986, and 721, but it's all for nothing with that wind. You’d be better off staying home.

Then we get into the first week of September. From Tuesday the 1st to Friday the 4th, it’s still not great. The wind keeps blowing cross-shore, the waves are either small or just not holding shape. The only thing that changes is the wind strength drops a bit to a moderate breeze by the 3rd and 4th, but it's still cross-shore, so the surf is still choppy and marginal. The combined energy spikes up to 1108 on Tuesday morning, but the quality is just not there.

The end of the first week into the second week, from Saturday the 5th to Monday the 7th, we finally see a shift. The wind turns onshore from the SSE, but it's light. The swell direction swings around to the SSW, which is a better angle for this break according to the guidance, with periods of 15 to 18 seconds, making it a solid groundswell. The waves are small, around 2ft to 4ft high, but with that light wind, it might be the cleanest it gets. The combined energy is moderate, peaking at 873 on Monday morning and 951 on Monday afternoon. For a spot that's already inconsistent, this is your best chance, but it's still a gamble.

After that, from Tuesday the 8th through to Thursday the 10th, it's back to the same old story. The wind picks up again from the ENE, cross-shore, and the surf quality drops off a cliff. The swell is small and messy, and the energy is moderate but poorly directed. The last entry on Thursday the 10th shows a strong breeze of 25 mph, making it an absolute mess.

So, the honest truth is, there's no standout session here. The whole period is a real struggle. If you're desperate, the light onshore winds from the 5th to the 7th of September might give you a few clean, small waves, but it's a long shot. For the rest of it, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, given the persistent cross-winds and lumpy conditions. Forecasts can change, but right now, it's a tough call.

Rusty.

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