Fourth Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Fourth Beach. There’s a real mixed bag coming our way, but if you’re patient, there’s a couple of windows that’ll make it all worthwhile.

The overall pattern sees a powerful, long-period SW groundswell building through the week, but the wind is gonna be the main character for most of it. We’ve got some serious energy on the table, with combined swell energy readings hitting four and five-digit figures (2898 to 11967), so there’s plenty of water moving around, but it’s not always gonna be clean.

Let’s talk about the standout. Thursday the 3rd is your best bet. The morning has a solid 12 ft SSW swell rolling in with a 15-second period, and the wind is blowing light offshore from the north at 9 mph. That’s going to put some real clean lines on the face. The combined energy is a massive 5037, so there’s serious power in the water. This is a big-wave day though – at over 8 ft, it’s strictly for the experienced crew. The crowd factor is “sometimes,” so you might not be alone, but good waves are worth sharing.

Thursday afternoon holds up too, with 10 ft SSW swell and still offshore from the NNW at 9 mph. The energy drops a touch to 4454, but it’s still a ripping session for those who can handle it.

Now, the first few days are a write-off. Wednesday the 2nd has a 8 ft to 10 ft SSW swell, but it’s blowing a cross-shore 16 mph westerly, making for a choppy, messy mess. Not worth paddling out for.

Friday the 4th is a nightmare. The swell is a solid 13 ft SW, but the wind is howling 25 mph from the west, then switching to a 22 mph cross-onshore. That’s a kite-surfing setup, not a paddle-surfing one. The combined energy is over 5500, but it’s just a washing machine.

The weekend is a bust. Saturday the 5th has some cleaner conditions with a cross-offshore wind, but the swell is a bit smaller at 8 ft to 10 ft, and the energy is moderate (3228). Sunday the 6th is a total no-go with a 28 mph onshore wind and a massive 16 ft swell. That’s wild, but not for surfing.

After the 3rd, the next real window looks like Thursday the 10th. The swell drops to a more manageable 6 ft SSW, with a 15-second period and a light cross-offshore breeze from the NE at 9 mph. The combined energy is a moderate 1393. It’s a cleaner, smaller option for the advanced surfer who wants a less intense session.

Then there’s a long gap until Sunday the 13th. That morning has a 6 ft SSW swell, a 14-second period, and a light cross-offshore breeze from the NE at 6 mph. The energy is a weak 1144, but it’s clean. A decent, smaller morning session.

The 16th of September is a long-range promise, but it’s a big one. Wednesday morning has a 13 ft SSW swell with a 16-second period, and a light offshore from the north at 6 mph. The combined energy is a massive 11967 – that’s a serious groundswell, and it’s calling for clean conditions. The jury is still out on that one, but it’s got me excited.

The water temp is sitting at about 62°F, which is 1°F above average for the time of year, so pretty normal for Fourth Beach.

So, to wrap it up: Thursday the 3rd is the big one. Get on it if you’ve got the skills. The 10th and the 13th offer cleaner, smaller options. That long-range day on the 16th of September is one to keep an eye on.

Rusty.

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