Fourth Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the stretch ahead for Fourth Beach.

First thing you need to know: we’ve got a proper run of waves on the way, but the start is a bit of a write-off. The surf is going to be a mixed bag, with some big, powerful swells rolling in. The water temp is sitting at 62°F, which is pretty average for this time of year, no real anomaly to speak of.

Alright, let's get into it. We’re kicking off Sunday the 26th, but honestly, it’s not worth paddling out. The morning has a 4ft SSW swell with a decent 15-second period, sound promising? Yeah, but the wind is ripping at 28 mph from the NW, making it messy. That afternoon, the swell jumps to a solid 10ft from the WSW, but the wind is still howling at 25 mph. The combined energy is heavy (632 and 1952), but the conditions are just poor.

Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th are a no-go. We’ve got a big, powerful swell (10ft to 12ft) but it’s onshore and lumpy. The energy readings are massive (3951, 4473, 3695), but the wind is all wrong. Tuesday afternoon does clean up a bit with a light breeze, but it’s still cross-onshore; the wave quality isn't there.

Now, Wednesday the 29th morning is where it starts to get interesting. The swell drops to a still-chunky 10ft from the SSW, 13-second period, but the wind goes offshore from the N at a light 6 mph. The energy is strong (2508), and the conditions are clean. This is a window for experienced surfers, as 10ft is big and the period means long gaps between sets, making it a serious paddle. If you’re an advanced crew, this is your call.

Thursday the 30th morning has a lighter 5ft SSW swell, and the wind is offshore from the N at 16 mph, so it’s clean. The energy is moderate (1195). Thursday afternoon gets even better: the swell drops to 4ft, but the wind goes light from the NE, making it very clean. This is a nice, manageable size for a broader range of surfers.

Friday the 31st is a standout. Morning has a 6ft SSW swell with a 18-second period, that’s a long-period groundswell. The wind is offshore from the NNW at 19 mph, so it’s clean. This will be a well-shaped wave, but that 18-second period will make it better for a point or reef setup than a beach break—sets will be powerful but with longer waits. The energy is strong (1929). Friday afternoon is even cleaner with a 7ft SSW swell, 16-second period, and light offshore wind. The energy is strong (2002). This is the best combo of size, wind, and period in the first week.

Saturday the 1st of August and Sunday the 2nd are a washout. We get a massive 12ft swell on Saturday afternoon (energy 5186), but the wind is strong and cross-off, making it way too big for most and just dangerous. Sunday has 10ft with a direct cross and cross-onshore wind, plus rain. It’s a mess.

Moving into the second week, Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th improve. Tuesday afternoon is a gem: a 8ft SSW swell with a 16-second period, and the wind goes glassy from the NE at 3 mph. The energy is strong (3437), and it’s glassy—this is a real surfers’ moment. The rest of the week sees solid 7ft to 8ft swells with offshore winds on Wednesday the 5th and Friday the 7th, providing clean waves.

The big news is the final weekend. Saturday the 8th has a 13ft SW swell, but the wind is cross-off and strong—way too big for a safe paddle. Sunday the 9th has 10ft to 12ft from the SSW, but the wind is directly onshore from the SSE. The energy is astronomical (5801 to 7825), but it’s not for paddling.

The real monster is Monday the 10th of August. We’re looking at a 18ft SSW swell in the morning, with a 20-second period. That’s an extreme, long-period groundswell. The energy reading is off the charts at 30077. The wind is light offshore from the NNE, so it will be clean, but at that size, it is experts-only territory. The afternoon is 16ft with a slight cross-onshore. This is a serious, serious swell event.

The picks: For the first week, Friday the 31st morning and afternoon are the standout for well-shaped, powerful, clean surf for experienced surfers. For the second week, Tuesday the 4th afternoon with that glassy 8ft swell is a highlight. The monster swell on August 10th is for the truly brave only.

Don't expect empty waves. Fourth Beach can get crowded, especially when it's good.

Rusty.

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