4 Mile Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking at 4 Mile. Straight up, this is a tough outlook. We’ve got a long, long stretch of mediocrity ahead, so don’t get your hopes up for anything spectacular for a while.

First thing you need to know about 4 Mile – it’s an advanced point break that’s fairly consistent, but it’s exposed to the swell and the optimum direction is from the W. We’ve got a south-southwest groundswell pattern setting up, and that’s not exactly what this spot is begging for. The water temp is sitting at 60°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing your arse off for the tiny, disappointing waves we’re about to look at.

Starting off on Tuesday, 18th August, the afternoon sees a little pulse of 3ft SSW groundswell with a long 16-second period. The combined energy is moderate (511). But here’s the kicker – the wind is a cross 16 mph from the WNW. It’s going to be lumpy and messy. The call is marginal at best. Not worth paddling out for, in my book.

From Wednesday the 19th all the way through to Saturday the 29th of August, it’s a bleak run. We’re looking at days on end of poor surf conditions. Swell heights mostly sit between 1ft and 4ft, with periods all over the place, and that wind just won’t let up – it’s cross or cross-on from the WNW or NW. The wave energy stays weak to moderate all the way through. The surf report itself keeps calling it “poor” or “marginal.” Honestly, there’s about a 10-day hole here where I wouldn’t even bother waxing the board.

The only flicker of a highlight comes around Thursday afternoon, 27th August and into Friday, 28th August. On the 27th, the afternoon swell bumps up to 5ft from the WNW, but with only an 8-second period – that’s short period, windswell junk. The energy hits 629 (moderate). Still, the wind is a cross 9 mph, so it’s going to be chopped up. On Friday the 28th, the afternoon sees 5ft NW windswell with a 9-second period and the energy jumps to 830 (strong). The wind is cross 16 mph though, so it’ll be a bumpy, cross-shore mess. For an advanced spot like 4 Mile, that’s only going to be for the hardcore guys who don’t mind a wrestle and want to get out of the house. It’s not clean, it’s not pretty.

Bottom line: if you’re a kite surfer, this whole window might look fun with that cross-shore wind and some size, but for a paddle surfer, this is a write-off for nearly two full weeks. The only day that even hints at being surfable is Friday the 28th afternoon, and even then, you’re dealing with lumpy windswell. Don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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