Fausse Passe Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at our local waters here at Fausse Passe. Things are looking pretty quiet overall across the 16-day window, so don’t get too excited just yet.

We start off on Thursday, the 20th of August, with a few small waves creeping in, but nothing to shout about. The swell is just 5ft from the southeast, with a short period of 8 seconds, and the wind is a fresh cross-off from the ESE at 19 mph. The combined wave energy is moderate at 655, and the water is sitting at 72°F, which is about average for this time of year. The sets are there, but the quality is really marginal, and the tide could mess things up. Friday morning sees a similar story, with the swell jumping to 6ft from the SE, but the wind is up to 22 mph and the period is still short, so the surf is just poor. Honestly, the wind is too strong for any kind of real quality.

Saturday and Sunday are a write-off, with swell dropping right off to under 3ft and the energy falling into the weak range. The wind is still howling from the east at 22 to 25 mph, so the ocean is just a choppy mess. There’s a real gap here for a few days until we get a glimmer of hope.

Then, on Tuesday, the 25th of August, things get interesting. We’ve got a long-period groundswell arriving from the SSW, coming in at 6ft with a period of 16 seconds—that’s a very long period, and the combined energy jumps right up to 1519, which is strong. The wind is a fresh offshore from the east at 22 mph, so the surface is clean. This is a standout for the forecast window, but it’s a tricky one. That long-period SSW swell is best for a reef break like Fausse Passe, so it should offer some nice, well-shaped waves. The sets will be a bit longer between them, but the paddling will be easier. The only catch is the size is moderate, so it’s more for experienced surfers, and the tidal conditions are still flagged as questionable. Even so, this is the best we’ve got.

Wednesday and Thursday mornings keep the SSW groundswell running, with 5ft and 5ft, periods around 15 seconds, and clean offshore winds. The energy is still strong, and the conditions are good for the experts. By Friday the 28th, the wind swings around to a light cross-on from the WNW, and the swell drops, so it’s all downhill from there.

After the 28th, the surf just fades away. The energy drops into the weak range, and the swell heights are tiny, barely 3ft and under. The wind stays moderate, but there’s no real push. From the 30th of August right through to the 4th of September, we’re looking at flat, clean surfaces with no real surf to speak of. The combined energy is mostly under 100, and the swell is too small and short-period to work. It’s a long, quiet stretch.

So, to wrap it up: the standout is the Tuesday, the 25th of August, through Thursday morning, the 27th, with that long-period SSW groundswell and clean offshore winds at Fausse Passe. Get out there if you’re experienced, because the rest of the 16 days is a bust. The water’s fine, but the waves aren’t around.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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