Fourth Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The only game in town for the next 16 days is Fourth Beach. It’s a tricky one this time, so listen up.

We’ve got a solid run of SW groundswell heading our way, but it’s going to be a battle with the wind for most of it. The water temp is sitting around 62°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The opening stretch, starting Wednesday the 22nd, is a write-off. We’ve got a chunky 10ft SSW swell, but with a strong cross-onshore wind and a nasty chop, it’s a mess. Not worth paddling out. That continues into Thursday (23rd) with the same size swell and onshore wind, just a bit less wind. Still rough.

Friday the 24th is where things start to look interesting. The swell has dropped to a very manageable 6ft from the SSW, but the key difference is the wind. It’s a clean, moderate offshore from the North, and the forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” The combined energy is still a solid 1127 (moderate), and the period is a nice 13 seconds. This is a standout window, especially for the advanced surfer. The break is fairly exposed, so it’ll handle the size well, and those offshore winds will make it glassy. Crowds are “sometimes” a thing here, so expect a few others out, but with the quality on offer, it’s worth it.

Saturday the 25th looks good too. A smaller 4ft to 5ft SSW swell, but with a clean offshore wind and a long 12-second period. The energy is a bit lower (508-576), so it’s a fun, clean day for a more relaxed session. This is a solid second option.

The rest of that weekend and into the next week is a mess. Sunday the 26th has strong winds, and Monday the 27th brings an 8ft swell but with a howling onshore wind. Choppy and poor. Tuesday the 28th is a bit smaller but still cross-onshore.

Now, mark your calendar for Wednesday the 29th of July. This is the real standout. The swell is 6ft from the SSW, but the wind is a clean offshore from the NNE at 16 mph. The energy is a solid 1607 (moderate), and the period is 13 seconds. The forecast says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is the best of the run. The morning will be peaky, fast, and clean. The afternoon stays clean with a light breeze.

The following days, Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st, see the swell pick up again, but it gets tricky. A 13ft SSW swell on the 31st with a 16-second period – that’s a very long period groundswell. The combined energy is a massive 13221 (very strong). This is expert territory only, and even then, the wind is questionable. The morning of the 31st has an offshore wind, but the swell is predicted to be too big for the break. It’s a warning more than a recommendation.

The first week of August is a mix of big, messy swells and strong winds. The 2nd and 3rd of August see 10ft to 13ft swells with strong cross-onshore winds. Not good.

The tail end of the run, around the 5th and 6th of August, shows some promise. Wednesday the 5th has a small 4ft swell, but with a massive 19-second period from the SW, and a clean offshore wind. The energy is 1685. That’s a very long period groundswell, so it’ll be perfect for the point break setup at Fourth Beach. The afternoon of the 5th has a 8ft SW swell with an 18-second period – very clean again. This is a promising late run, but it’s a long way out.

So, calling it now: the best on offer is Friday morning the 24th of July for the clean offshore winds and solid size, and Wednesday the 29th of July for the absolute peak conditions of clean, powerful, and manageable surf. The 5th and 6th of August are a long-range whisper of something good.

Rusty.

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