Flagpoles Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let me break it down for you.

Straight up, Flagpoles is looking at a pretty flat and messy stretch ahead. We’ve got a solid 16-day window from the end of July through mid-August, but there’s nothing to get excited about. The opening days are a total write-off, with tiny, weak swell and poor conditions. Honestly, the whole period looks like a bit of a dud. The first real glimmer of any wave energy shows up in the second week, but it’s still nothing to write home about.

From Friday, July 31st, right through the first week of August, it’s all small stuff. The swell barely gets above 3 ft, and when it does, the wind is mostly cross-onshore, chopping it up. The period is short, often around 4 to 5 seconds, which means weak, crumbly waves. The combined energy values are all in the double digits, well under 100, so it’s weak energy across the board. The mornings are often glassy, like on Monday, August 3rd, with a 2 ft south-east swell in glassy conditions, but the swell is just too small and weak to do anything with. The water temperature is about 86°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year.

The best of a bad bunch looks like Thursday, August 6th. The morning brings a 4 ft swell from the east-southeast, with a period of 5 seconds. The combined energy hits 61, which is still weak, and the wind is onshore, so it’s not going to be clean. That’s the biggest swell in the whole run, but it’s not going to be pretty. The afternoon is similar, with a 3 ft swell from the east. This is still a beach and reef setup, so with that onshore wind and weak, short-period swell, it’s likely going to be a bumpy, closed-out mess.

Later in the second week, around Wednesday, August 12th, the swell direction swings to the northeast, and the period jumps to 12 seconds. That’s a groundswell, which is a good sign, but the swell height is only 2 ft. The combined energy is 88, still not strong. The wind is cross-onshore, so it’s not going to be a clean, workable wave. The period is long enough to suggest some shape, but the size is just too small for it to be a goer.

So, what’s the standout? Honestly, there isn’t one. If you’re desperate, the morning of Thursday, August 6th has the most size, but expect bumpy, onshore conditions. The Wednesday, August 12th morning has a longer period, but it’s tiny. The crowds at Flagpoles are “sometimes” a problem, but with this forecast, you’ll have the place to yourself.

To put it bluntly, this is a tough run. The forecast can change, so don’t write the whole 16 days off, but as it stands, the paddle is not worth the effort.

Rusty.

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