Fourth Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m gonna break down what’s cooking at Fourth Beach over the next two and a half weeks. Buckle up, because there’s a lot of swell on the way, but it’s not all going to be a smooth ride.

We’re kicking off Wednesday, July 15th, with a solid SSW groundswell. We’re talking about 6.2ft of swell with a juicy 14-second period, and the water temp is sitting at 62.1°, which is about average for this time of year. The wind is howling out of the north early, but it's offshore, so Fourth Beach is going to be a bit of a beast. The wave energy is strong (1442), but it’s gonna be a challenge – this is advanced stuff. The morning is a bit of a battle with the fresh wind, but the afternoon is where it’s at. The wind drops to a gentle 9 mph offshore, the swell is still a solid 5.9ft, and the energy jumps up (2137). That’s the best on offer for the first few days – clean, powerful, and for the experienced crew only.

Thursday the 16th keeps the good times rolling. Morning is fresh offshore, 5.9ft of swell, and the period stretches to 16 seconds. This is a long-period groundswell, which means bigger, more powerful lines, but it can be a bit tricky on a beach break like this. The afternoon is the real standout: 6.2ft, 15-second period, moderate offshore wind, and the energy is solid (1657). That’s a top window for the skilled surfer.

Friday the 17th, we see the swell start to drop. The morning is still okay with 4.6ft and a moderate offshore, but the energy is waning (636). The afternoon turns ugly with a cross-onshore wind and the swell drops to 3.9ft. Not worth paddling out for.

Then we hit a rough patch. Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th are messy. Saturday has a cross-offshore wind that cleans the surface, but the swell is mixed up and the energy is all over the place. By Sunday, the swell is back up to 6.9ft with a 16-second period, but the wind is cross-off again. It’s surfable, but not the clean, groomed conditions we want. The wave energy is very strong (2054), but the wind is just not cooperating.

The pattern continues into Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st – we’ve got waves, plenty of them (7.2ft, 13-second period on Monday, energy 1679), but the wind is cross-off or cross-shore, leaving a bit of chop on the face. It’s not bad, but it’s not the glassy perfection we’re after.

Wednesday the 22nd is a write-off. Onshore wind from the SSW, the swell is big – 8.2ft in the morning, 9.8ft in the afternoon – but the wind is trashing it. The afternoon energy is massive (6577), but this is a strong wind, onshore mess. For expert chargers only, if you’re desperate.

Now, Thursday the 23rd is interesting. Swell is still a solid 9.8ft from the SSW, 15-second period, and the wind is light and cross-shore from the east. The energy is enormous (4117). This is a big, powerful groundswell. The light cross-shore wind will keep it reasonably clean, but it’s still a big, serious wave. This is for the brave.

Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th are the real standouts of the whole run. The swell drops to a more manageable 7.9ft and 7.5ft, but the wind goes pure offshore from the north. Friday afternoon is a gem: 7.5ft, 14-second period, light offshore wind, and clean-as-a-whistle conditions. The energy is still strong (1858). Saturday morning is similar, with 6.2ft and a moderate offshore. This is the best sequence of the forecast – powerful, clean, and for the experienced surfer, it’s going to be world-class.

Sunday the 26th, the swell drops away fast. 3.3ft in the morning, 2.6ft in the afternoon. The wind is offshore, but the energy is weak (318 and 344). It’s rideable, but small.

The first week of the second week, from Monday the 27th to Wednesday the 29th, is a mixed bag. The swell is small, mostly under 3.6ft, and the wind is all over the place. The only real glimmer is Wednesday the 29th. The afternoon is glassy, with a 3.0ft, but the period is a massive 19 seconds. The energy is moderate (1349), but that long period will make these tiny waves surprisingly punchy and clean. A fun little session for the longboard or a log.

Thursday the 30th ends the forecast with a thud. Onshore wind, the swell is 6.2ft, but the wind is onshore and the energy is huge (3580). It’s a complete mess.

So, the best

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