Fourth Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me tell ya, it's Rusty, and I've been staring at the charts for Fourth Beach. It’s a tricky one, folks. We’ve got a big 16-day window ahead, but honestly, for the first week and a half, it’s going to be a write-off. The ocean is just angry out there.

We’re looking at a long stretch of nothing good from now until about the middle of the month. The swell comes in massive, but the wind is just howling onshore or cross-shore, just tearing it to pieces. You’ll see waves, but they’ll be a mess of lumpy, blown-out slop you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. Think of it as a waiting period. The local water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing weird going on there.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Saturday, August 15th. The afternoon session is where it’s at. The wind finally swings offshore from the NNE (9 mph), cleaning things right up. The swell settles down to a manageable 7 ft from the SSW, and with a 15-second period, that’s a proper groundswell. The energy is moderate (1626), but the conditions will be clean. It’s an excellent call for experienced surfers, as the swell is still a bit punchy, but it’s a solid, clean wave.

Then, Monday, August 17th morning looks like the real standout. We’ve got a light NNW breeze (6 mph), glassing it up. The swell is 6 ft from the SW with a 14-second period, giving a moderate energy (1387). That’s a perfect size for a session, and with offshore wind, it’s going to be clean as a whistle. Again, it’s an excellent call for experienced surfers, but the conditions are just too good to ignore.

As we push into the third week, Tuesday, August 18th morning is another one to circle. Light WNW wind (6 mph) keeping it *clean*, with an 8 ft SW swell at 16 seconds. That’s a lot of water moving, with moderate energy (3726), and it’s another excellent shout for the experienced crew. This spot is a fairly exposed advanced break, so crowds are possible, but with that size and the long period, it’s a proper challenge.

The long-period swells (anywhere from 14 to 18 seconds) are a big feature here. At a beach break, that long period can make the wave break a bit straight and hard, so it’s not for the faint of heart. But if you’ve got the skills and a board that can handle it, the clean windows are there.

So, the takeaway: the first week is a total loss. The second week starts to turn. The absolute best bets are Saturday, August 15th afternoon, Monday, August 17th morning, and Tuesday, August 18th morning. That’s your window. Beyond that, it’s a bit of a gamble further out, but those dates are the ones to pin on the calendar.

Rusty.

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