1st Parking Lot Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, I’ve taken a good look at the forecast for 1st Parking Lot. Let’s get into it.

Honestly, it’s a tough stretch ahead. Over the whole 16-day window, there’s not a single session that I’d call a real standout. The surf stays small, and the energy just isn’t there. The strongest combined energy registers only 52 (moderate wave energy) on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 8th, but even that session is plagued by a cross-onshore wind and lumpy conditions. For the most part, the combined energy sits under 30, which is weak.

Starting with Friday, July 3rd, the morning starts glassy with a tiny 1ft swell from the SSE, but it’s only 5 seconds of period – that’s gonna be weak and gutless. The afternoon gets messy with onshore winds. Saturday the 4th stays clean but you’re looking at ankle-snappers at best.

Sunday the 5th through Monday the 6th? Onshore breeze and poor conditions – the combined energy barely reaches double digits. The morning of Tuesday the 7th sees a return to glassy conditions, but again, swell is only 1ft with short period, so no drive.

Wednesday, July 8th offers the most energy we see (49 to 52 combined energy), but it’s small (1ft to 3ft) and the wind is cross-onshore, making it choppy. Thursday the 9th is even worse with fresh cross-shore winds and lumpy chop.

The morning of Saturday, July 11th is notable because it’s clean with a fresh offshore wind from the WNW, blowing 35 km/h. Swell is only 1ft from the SE with a 9-second period, so it’s clean but tiny. Could be a fun little window for a longboard if you just want to get wet without any crowds, but it’s not a standout.

Sunday the 12th is clean again in the morning with a gentle offshore, but again, no size – 1ft.

Beyond that, the second week is more of the same. Monday the 13th through Wednesday the 15th have some clean offshore moments, but the swell never pushes past 1ft. By Thursday the 16th, onshore winds return. Friday the 17th afternoon clears up with a 30 km/h cross-offshore wind and a 2ft swell, which is the biggest we see on offer, but the period is a short 4 seconds – that’s just windswell slop.

So here’s the call: there are no good surf options in this entire 16-day window. It’s a long run of poor conditions. If on Friday, July 3rd or Saturday, July 11th you see it glassy and you’re desperate, you could just sit out there, but don’t expect much.

Because 1st Parking Lot is a consistent break, I’m optimistic this is just a flat spell and forecasts can change. It’s a reliable spot, so it tends not to stay this poor for long.

For now, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing when the wind picks up, especially from the SSE between July 5th and July 10th.

Keep the chin up. Rusty.

Read more