Fourth Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let's talk about the only break on the table for the next couple of weeks: Fourth Beach.

We’re starting off with a bit of a rough patch, I’m not gonna lie. The first several days look pretty grim. From Sunday the 6th right through to Tuesday the 8th, the wind is howling onshore or cross-onshore, and the sea is a mess. Sure, there’s a building swell, but it’s just not rideable. We’re talking a massive combined wave energy of 1376 to 5247, so there’s plenty of power, but it’s all chop and no shape. Honestly, for a beach break, that setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Wednesday the 9th. The wind starts easing off, going cross-off in the afternoon with a fresh breeze, and the swell drops to a manageable 8 ft from the SSW. The wave energy is still strong at 2583, and the conditions turn clean. It’s still a bit big for beginners, but the more experienced crew will be looking at this.

Thursday the 10th stays clean-ish with a cross-off wind, but the swell is dropping back to 6 ft, and the energy is down to 1290. It’s on the fence.

Now, the true standout window is shaping up. Friday the 11th is where it’s at. Morning brings a light offshore breeze from the NNE, and the swell is a solid 5 ft from the SSW, with a long period of 15 seconds. The combined wave energy is a moderate 1096, and the report says "expect very good surf conditions." The wind is offshore and clean – that’s the magic word. It’s a great option for a wave, but keep in mind that long period groundswell at a beach break can sometimes be a bit straight, so you might have to hunt for the peak.

The good run continues through the weekend. Saturday the 12th is a bit more cross-shore, but Sunday the 13th afternoon looks promising again with a clean 6 ft swell from the SW and lighter winds.

After that, things get mixed up again. There’s a small window on Tuesday the 15th with a morning offshore, but the real bang for the buck comes on Wednesday the 16th. The morning offers a 7 ft SSW swell, with a 16-second period, and a clean offshore wind from the NNW. The combined wave energy is a strong 2347, and the report says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." This is a big, powerful, clean swell – it’s the pick of the whole forecast for competent surfers. The afternoon is just as good.

Then it all goes haywire. The 18th of September brings a massive 13 ft to 13 ft swell from the SW, with a ridiculous combined wave energy of 8139 to 11119. The wind is howling cross-shore, making it a total mess. For the experts, the swell is just too big and messy for this break. The 19th and 20th stay big and lumpy, with the 20th seeing a monstrous 18 ft swell with an incredible 21-second period and energy of 28905. That’s a massive, powerful groundswell, but with onshore wind, it’s a no-go for surfing. The 21st is huge too, but at least it’s clean.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a washout. The best bet is the window from Friday the 11th through Wednesday the 16th, with Wednesday the 16th being the absolute standout for experienced surfers looking for clean, powerful waves. Long-range, the 21st of September is a clean, massive swell, but it’s a long way out and the size is intimidating.

Rusty.

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